WELFARE LEAGUE AND THE COAL SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 5

WELFARE LEAGUE AND THE COAL SUPPLY

Sir,—With reference to jthe article written by the Welfare League regarding coal control, I would like to point out that the Welfare League is altogether at sea regarding coal control. There is no Government Department that is directly in charge of coal control. Each committee at Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch has full power to control supplies within their district, subject only to the Minister in charge of coal control. The Welfare League evidently knows nothing of the coal position, either within the Domin-"" ion or outside of it, if tho article published by them is an evidence of their knowledge. They state that with large deliveries to the consumer the cost of living would be reduced. Seeing that there is not enough coal in the Wellington district to go round, who would get tho delivery? Those who could buy in large quantities or the poorer citizen? ■Wouldn’t tho latter lie sacrificed for the man who had the means, because tmr distributor would make a larger profit out of the person who took the larger quantity? Seeing that there is an open market, why doesn’t the Welfare League (whose secretary, has a knowledge of the coal trade) import coal or get some of its members to do so? Why write about it? The market is here, the people want the coal, why not get it? Tho answer is that those in the trade cannot, neither can tho Welfare League. Coal of an Inferior quality can bo bought, but the citizens of Wellington require the best and are entitled to it. To get over tho difficulty, I would suggest that the Welfare League send its secretary to Newcastle to ask the nip l ' ers there to bend their backs a little more and strike less. Our coal difficulties may then be removed. If decontrol would effect a saving or'obtain more coal it should certainly be brought about; but it must be remembered that tho members of the 'Wellington Coni Trade Committee give their services vol/ntarily. to the Government, the only costs being necessary office expenses. I am. etc., BRUNNER.