POSITION OF COAL TRADE.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 752, 1 August 1922, Page 5

POSITION OF COAL TRADE.

LOCAL DEMAND HAS FALLEN. An authority well versed in the coal mining industry of the Waikato says that whereas the miners a few years ago were earning £6 to £7 a week, their earnings have been whittled down ro £3 or £3 10s per week, as it is not possible for the companies to keep them going full time. “ At the present time,” he said, “the Government railways were consuming very little New Zealand coal compared to what they consumed two or three years ago, owing to having contracts overseas and the big stocks in hand throughout the Dominion. Sooner or later these contracts would run out, but that, would not help as much as it would under ordinary circumstances. as the consumption of New Zealand coal—especially of small coal —was going to be affected by the big Government hydro-electric schemes, which were now being pushed ahead with. If, as reported, these were going to give the industries, city and rural, cheap power, they would not need the coal they now consumed, whilst the bunkering of steamers was also likely to be seriously affected by the increasing number of oil-burning steamers, elaorate preparations for which had already been made at Miramar by the erection of huge storage tanks. It is also stated that, on account of the falling away in the consumption of New Zealand coal, there lias been considerable price-cutting lately in the price of bunker coal.