"COAL TO NEWCASTLE"

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 26, 26 October 1920, Page 10

"COAL TO NEWCASTLE"

SOUTH AFBICAN SUPPLIES FOE ENGLAND. A British ship i went out to Africa with a full cargo of machinery, mechanical appliances, and agricultural goods, said the London "Daily Telegraph" of August 20. She was unable to obtain a cargo for her voyage. What should bo done? bomeone hit on the idea, of loading her up with Transvaal coal, assuming that a market for it could bo found' in Norway. So tho vessel went round to Dcla&oa Bay, took on board the coal, and sailed home. But when she reached these shores it was found that, owing to the coal crisis here, her cargo coulu be sold at udvan- ' tage in this great coal-producing' country. A contract was maue.iind tile curgo unloaded, and so that coal never reached Norway. It appeared that the cargo could bo sold at a price which was nearly £1 a ton less than the export price 01 Jintish coal. This experience has suggested the wisdom of bringing in iurtner supplies of South African coal, and in tins meantime all tho surplus coal which the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and China can spare is being transhipped to our former customers in various parts of the world. Wlien we get down to bedrock, it is apparent that tho secret of the success of our industries, as well as of our mercantile marine, was to be lound. in the past in our coal measure. It is ou# of the most amazing perversities that at *a moment when the whole world is crying out for as much coal as we could by any possibility supply, the miners 6iiould nave slowed down production by about 50,000,000 tons annually us compared with 1013. Wo are losing in revenue this year at least JJIiIHJ.OOO.UUU owing to this curious piece of folly. The miners are injuring themselves quite as much as the community generally, for if. tlrft sum was coming into 'the 'country they would benefit with everyone else. Thus we are reduced to buying coal from the Transvaal, supplies reaching us in spite of the (iOOO mile journey cheaper than they can be obtained in this great cual country. Tho age of economic miracles—or ttilies —is certainly not passed.