BRITAIN'S COAL POSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 20 December 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN'S COAL POSITION

Received Fridav, 7 p.m. LONDOX, Dec. LU !Mr. Gaitskell's review of the coal situation at his Press eonference was tlve most encouragiug statement an\ Minister of Puel and Power has beeu able to issue since the end of the war. The Minister disclosed that production had improved to such an extent that the country entered the winter vvitli .1,652,000 tons more coal than the Government had dared to hope for. Moreover, in happy contrast -to last year, when industry commenced to draw on the reserve stocks in October. production was still rising and reserves mounting. Oue important factor, said tlie Minister, had heen the volunteer elfhrt to unload railway wagons. Whereas last year 103,000 tons had heen lost during the corresponding week owing to shortage of wagons, last week ^ the loss had heen negligible. Hncouraged* hy these ligures the (lovernment liad decided to increase the quantity of cmil allocated for export and the luinkering of ships to 200,001) tons a week from January 1, and to allocate 20,000 tons to domestic consurners. This would mean that N0,()00 tons a week should he available for export in .lanuary. Mr. Gaitskell also promised the steel industry a further 20,000 tons of coking coal a week. Asked ahout export coal prices, Mr. Gaitskell said that these would he decided by the Coal Board. He had no doubt that all the coal available for export would he readilv sold.