COAL FOR SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

COAL FOR SCHOOLS

ALLEGATIONS REGARDING A RING. By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, April '1. The supply of coal for .school purposes was referred to in indignant terms by some members of the Canterbury Education Board at the meeting to-day. Several members said that some time ago a certain largo coal company had agreed to supply the board with up lo 500 tons at ,£2 2s. Gu'. per ton, but owing to what was simply a coal ring in Cliristchurch this offer was blocked. Mr. 11. G. Bignell said ho had been told by a big firm in Greymouth that coal could be put on board ship there for ,£1 per ton. the freight to Lyttelton being lis. Gd. per ton, several member?; desired to know who took the difference between the actual price of coal and the price winch was being charged tho public. ' God knows we want to keep our children warm," commented Mr. .T. ■Tamieson, 'but tho coal ring won't let us."

lUILWAY COMMUNICATION AVtTH COALFIELDS NEEDED. Ily Telegranli-l'ress Association. Westport, April I. In regard to the. complaint from Christchurch of a coal shortage. Mr. Donald M'Keiizie, a member of the AAestport Borough Council, and an aspirant for a scat, on tho Westport -Harbour Board at the coming elections, point out that the root of the trouble lies with the Government not linking tip AVwtport with the iminenso coalfields in the I.uller and Inangahua Valleys. The Bailor fioige railway only requires extending about 1 miles to open up what apparently is II o largest and most easily worked coalfield in New Zealand. Mr. M>cn*ie content. Plates slumping the Dominion and dolivcring speeches on the /oaV fiueslmii. Ho contends that the In ly sn the past in regard to the iron industry lias been in taking the coal to the iron ore. ins o.n) of tho iron lo tho eoal, and i »** (his by what has happened in Amdialia and England.