COAL FOR SHIPS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 7

COAL FOR SHIPS

NEW ZEALAND SUPPLIES TRANSPORT OF TROOPS STATEMENT BY MINISTER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrignt) SYDNEY, April 7 The Federal Minister of Supply, Sir Frederick Stewart, states that arrangements have been made to secure coal for ships to carry troops abroad. It is learned that the arrangements include supplies of coal from New Zealand. The combined mining unions knew of this development, but it is understood they preferred not to make any representations to the New Zealand Government or the New Zealand trades union movement.

In an interview from Wellington last night the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, said he had gone carefully into the matter of allowing shipments of coal to go to Australia. In view of the urgency of the matter it had been decided to permit consignments of steam coal for the Australian Navy and troopships only to be sent to Australia. Types of coal required in New Zealand would not be allowed to leave the Dominion, but it was felt that as supplies were needed for the Navy and troopships, the Dominion should do anything possible to help Australia’s war effort. New Zealand could supply a reasonable quantity of small steam coal, mostly from the West Coast, but no big coal would be sent. Mr Weob said arrangements were now being made for the first shipment, which he understood would be about 3000 tons. The supplying of the coal was a war measure, he added, so that the labour dispute in Australia did not enter into it. DRIVE IN BRITAIN INCREASE OF EXPORTS SUPPLY OF NEUTRAL MARKETS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 6 The British Mines Department has announced a new drive for increased exports of coal, intensification of the output from the mines and stricter regulation of home consumption, for which a council has been established under the chairmanship of Lord Portal. The council includes equal representation of owners and miners, and will pay particular attention to neutral markets hitherto supplied by Germany.