BRITISH TRADE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16729, 12 January 1920, Page 7

BRITISH TRADE.

I encouraging outlook. C«.bl»—Prcca Asaocintior: —Copvruht.s (Australian ar.-i >.".Z. CaMc Association.) ; i'elejram..' Received January lltli. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON", January !>. In tho House of Commons. Sir Auckland Oeddc-s. President of the Hoard of Trade, mad,, a statement reviewing trade product-. Ho s.iid that the position was undiuibtodly encouraging. Hi: pointed iut that the po.-it.ioii needed only the natural increase in exports and tiie earnings of British vessels to hecuro a net favouiabx balance this year. '"In that ease." lie said, •"tiio year 1020 will Lc a year (if solvency, in which we shall Wg'n off our debt abroad, and re.sume our investments in foreign countPes. .mil particularly the development ol the Empire. "With ireedom from labour disputes, IK') should give Lumper output, from Hnti.-ii shipbuilding yards.'' •Sir Auckland Grddes pointed out that ih" ciHtoii and woollen industries were fl-jodeil with orders, and likewi.se the engineering trades. Tho latter were only a .Mutiny ihi.> .settlement of the disastrous moulders' dispute. COAL EXPORT. .MINERS' ALLEGATIONS. j Received January lltli. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. January !». The Executive of the Miners' Federation discussed tho soaring prices of export coal, which was 65s per ton in December, as compared with 40s tier ton in July. "Whereas Sir Auckland Gcddes, President of the Board of Trade, estimated tho year's revenue from tho export of bunker coal would be £61,000,000, it has been £69,000,000 for six months. Tin; .Miners' Federation decided to send a deputation to Mr Lloyd George to demand a higher wage or a decrease in living expenses. Tho miners nccuso tho owners of cutting down supplies of domestic coal in order to secure the large profits from export coal. The miners say they will not continue to produce more coal without higher wages, unless tho whole community benefits.

CONGESTION OF DOCKS. SHIPPING SERIOUSLY DELAYED. LONDON, January 8. Tho Ceramic, which has been held up at Plymouth, owing to tho congestion in the London docks, has been ordered to resume her voyage. It is hoped that she may bo berthed in London on Tuesdav. Tho vessel has been burning 50 tons of coal daily for over a month to keep the refrigerating plant going. Tho congestion at Southampton is acuto. The port did excellently during the war, but tho facilities for dealing with overseas cargoes aro proving utterly inadequate. Ships aro constantly arriving with food and wool, only to find that they must leave their cargoes rotting in tho sheds, or seek another port. Tho Suovic and Runic, from Australia, havo thus left to find a less congested port.