CONTROL REMOVED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 272, 11 August 1921, Page 6

CONTROL REMOVED

ABOLITION OF THE COAL COMMITTEES SUPPLIES NOW SATISFACTORY < REMARKS BY THE MINISTER The Hon. El. H. Guthrie, Acting-Min-ister in Charge of the Coal Trade Regulations, announced yesterday that Cabinet had. decided to lift the restrictions on " the distribution of coal in the Dominion. This decision will result in the abolition ’ of the honorary Coal Trado Committees at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington, together with their various branches, and of the Coal Control Department at Wellington. Mr. Guthrie stated that the Government had been watching the coal position very closely for.some time past in order to take the earliest opportunity of bringing the operations of the Department to a close, in view of the necessity of effecting economies in administration in every possible direction. "As is commonly known,” said the Minister, “the coal position this winter lias shown considerable improvement compared with last year, and at the present time supplies are so plentnul as to enable the Government to withdraw the restrictions on the delivery of coal within the Dominion. This will be done as from September 1. It may be found pecossary, however, to retain some of the ' powers contained in the Coal trade Kegulations meantime, in which case the Hon. the Minister of Mines will be charged with the administration. Jho Government Firewood Depot, which has served such a useful purpose for the last two winters, will be handed over, to t.ne Mines Department to be worked in conjunction with the State Coal Depot. "The improved position has not been brought about by any material increase in the outputs of the Dominion mines, Ibut mainly by the largo increase in importations, which amounted to approximately 240,0C0 tons for the first six months of this ' year. an addition to this, owing to general economic conditions prevailing, the demand has decreased, especially as regards Lie bunkering of overseas steamers, which usually absorbs a vary large amount of coal. The mildness of the weather this winter has also resulted in decroMod demand for household coal, oonsequeutly most of the local yards are well stocicsd. In Mew of these circumstances, ami the fact that the Commonwealth authorities have now lifted the embargo on the export of coal to New Zealand, the Dominion is in a sufficiently safe position to justify the action taken. "In terminating the control of the distribution of coal, the activities of one •f the most important Departments crea«d by war conditions will be brought to an end. As is well known, under the Coal Trade Regulations certain districts in the Dbminion are constituted coaltrade districts, and the operation of the , regulations therein is carried out by committees. The members of these committees have given their, services to the Government gratuitously, and in carrying out the important duties connected with the regulations have rendered valuable service to the State, and have given universal satisfaction to all with whom they have had to deal. "As will bo remembered, shortage of coal first became Bertens towards the end cf IMS, and it was quite, clear to. those then responsible that if the Dominion s main activities wore to bo carried on, some efficient method of distributing available supplies would have to bo devised, and the quantity materially increased. Consequently, in February, 1917, the regulations were gazetted, and later In the year Coal Trade Committees appointed, which worked in <onjunction with the Munitions and Supplies Department (later thS Coal Control Department). Since that time to the beginning of the present year the coal position has been one causing the gravest cohcern, and had not substantial increases in the importation taken placetogether with efficient distribution —to counteract the persistent falling-off of the Dominion output, there is not the ■lightest doubt that severe financial loss would have resulted, with consequent unemployment .and distress. To illustrate the success Gvhich has attended the efforts of those associated with the work, ft has only to be pointed out. that although in isolated cases some industries have had to'somewhat curtail operations (temporarily, generally our industries and Services have been enabled to carry om "I desire to take this opportunity, Concluded Mr. Guthrie, "ns present Minister in Charge of Coal Control, to express on behalf of the Government its ■ appreciation and thanks to members and ■eeretarle.s of the Coal Trade Committees, their . representatives, and the offioer-in-nharge and staff of the Coal Control Department, for the valuable services rendered and for the excellent manner in which they have carried out their duties.”