LOCAL OPINIONS VARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 6

LOCAL OPINIONS VARY.

CAN OUR MINES INCREASE THEIR OUTPUT? COAL FROM JAPAN. Mr. Samuel Brown, of tho firm of S. Bfown and Co., big importers of " Newcastle," informed a Dominion representative yesterday that he did not think New Zealand would be greatly affected by the strike at Nowcastle. There was not so very much coal coming to New Zealand altogether, and wo could only.be affected in proportion to tho quantity wo wero in the habit of getting. Union Company's Position. He thought that tho total import of Newcastle coal into tsfe Dominion was about

120,000 tons. Tho Union.Company would bo the heaviest sufferers, as they coaled their inter-colonial boats at Newcastle, and would now have to fill up' their bnnkors in tho Dominion until tho Newcastle trouble was settled. . _ •Mr. Brown stated' that a. striko at Nowcastle sixteen years ago led to tho importation of Japanese coal, and it'was then proved that coal conld bo. imported from Japan to Sydney at under £1 por ton, whilo Newcastle (at the wages then boing paid) cost considerably more. Tho Japanese mines wero just being oponed up at that time, and now Japan oxpprted about 6,000,000 tons por annum. \ Ho assumed that the shortage in supplies from Newcastlo would be met by a. bigger output from our own • mines, which output, together with tho slackening in tho demand owing to tho advance, of summer, would meot the temporary difficulty occasioned by tho striko. A Manager's Yiews. In reply to a question, Mr.. W. A. Flavell, local manager of the Westport Coal Company, stated that ho did not, think Now Zealand would bo greatly affec.ted by tho Newcastlo strike. It was. bound, to be affected a little, as a good deal,of Newcastle coal was imported into New Zealand, and it was almost impossible for tho output of the local mines to be increased on the spur of the moment, wing to the great scarcity of miners. As a matter of fact, they could not increase tho output at present. "Will not the falling off in the demand for household coal assist matters?" "No, I don't think that will help, as the falling off in that respect is more, than compensated for in the; increased' consumption by the freezing companies and - steamersnew summfer activities that Tcally'moro than accounted for the falling off .in' household consumption." . ■ ■' Prices Likely to Harden. " Will the'price go jupP"-;; "I can't say—not that I'am at present aware. Of course, whenever tliore is a sudden increase in the demand, the tendency of prices is to harden.'.-. Most of the big industries in New Zealand have cpntracts, and they will not be affected, but new demands from industries that have been depending on Newcastle will probably have to pay a little more. '' The net result must be; a . shortage in supplies, as it'is impossible to increase the output of our. mines at such short notice. We liavo been working shorthanded now for seme time, anil have been advertising for men with little result.'" In reply to a question, ! Mr. Flavpll said that New Zealand imported between 150,(100 to 200,000 tons of Newcastle coal a yearly would say it was 'now nearer the latter than the former quantity.

... SHIPPING AFFECTED. VESSELS ENGAGED" IN COAL ; TRADE... Ihcluded in the list of regular coal' traders from Newcastle to Now Zealand.are: — Steamers : Komata (1994), Aymeric (4863), Kaitiina (1997), Wairii'na (3947), Rakanoa (2246), Largo LawY(3974), Kamona (1425), Whangape (2931), Kai Apbi (2003), Kawri (lii 63 ); Karatane 1376). S&ilmg vessels: Rivef Boyne (466), Helen Denny (695), Eanda Isle (261)',. Pendle Hill, Southern Cross (257), lima (318), Defiance (199), Kate Tatham (275),: Helga (1296), TJruroa (196),'. Northern Chief' (263), Monurewa (327), Silver Cloud (292), the Craig Fleet, namely: Alexander (530), Louisa' (683), Constance (494), .Marjone (499), Jessio (633), James ' (464), . JSelwyn (486), Margaret. . " ' ■■ . • DUNEDIN STOCKS. Dunedin, November 14. , Inquiries made in Dunedin regarding the Newcastle, strike tend to show, that the position is regarded as serious, but local supplies are considered sufficient to avert dislocation of trade, for some weeks. One prominent business man declares that the railways have aboutsix months' supplies in hand at, their principal coaling depots. Messrs. John Mill and Co., who have important contracts for supplying the principal southern gasworks with Newcastle coal, estimate that there are six. weeks' supplies ■in hand'. '' . ' "

Mr. Mill stated that his firm received a cablegram to-day asking it to arrange for a cargo of 5000 tons of Westport coal for the steamer Harbart, now at northern ports, but it was impossible to fill the order.

POSITION OF UNION COMPANY. ENORMOUSLY" INCREASED EXPENDITURE. . - - Dunedin, November. 14. Sir James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company, says the Newcastle strike will bo a severe blow to shipping companies, but many will be ltopt going on New Zealand coal. The Union Company's steamers will'be kept, running as usual, but at an enormously increased expenditure. SERIOUS RESULTS ' AT 'AUCKLAND V TWENTY VESSELS AFFECTED. Auckland,. November 14., A member of the firm of J. J. Craig and Co. stated to a reporter that "thero were twenty vessels«. in tho coal trade between Auckland and' Newcastle, all of which would be laid up, so far as coal cargoes were concerned. There would be no rise in sailing freights from Auckland, but a difficulty would be experienced in securing roturn > cargoes. And . with tho vessels diverted to other trades, it might be;, difficult to obtain coal tonnage at "the end of the strike. ■ "