STATE COAL MINES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 180, 7 August 1901, Page 3

STATE COAL MINES.

THE COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

TOO MANY POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED.

By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, lasi night. The Coal Mines Commission’s report recommends the appointment of a Chief Inspector of coal mines for the colony, and that additional district inspectors should be appointed. A determined eilort should be made to take stock of our coal resources, and let the people of the colony know how far they can rely upon a coal supply for the next generation. Immediate efforts should be made to ascertain where coal-bearing areas are situated on Crown lands, and such land should not be sold. It recommends to the consideration of the Government the sound policy of reserving to the State the coal areas not now alienated or worked.

The Commissioners state that “ the establishment of a coal mine owned and worked by the State has been much pressed upon us by many witnesses, but it is a question involving.so many political considerations that we feel it is one eminently beyond our functions, and is only to be dealt with and decided by Parliament. But in the meantime the acquisition by individuals of areas which may be required for the people generally should be prevented. We were much pressed to recommend a differential rate on the various classes of coal carried. It I was urged that slack and nuts should be carried at less rate than round coal. We

regret we are unable to make any recommendation thereon. It is a matter really outside the scope of our commission, and is rather one relating to railway administration. We are aware thatjun experiment of charging lesser rates for lower classes of coal was made, and was found not to work satisfactorily. We commend the subject to tire serious consideration of the authorities. -Much evidence was offered to us which we felt unable as well as unwilling to reject on

the subject of cost of coal to the consumer as compared with the cost of the production. In the ease of the Westport Company’s coal, which is produced at 7s lOd a ton in the railway trucks at Waimongaroa, and is retailed in Wellington at XI los a toil net, is a striking example of the cost of distribution. Mokuu coal is produced at the mine at 8s Od, and is sold in New Plymouth retail at XI lls per ton. The same proportion practically exists throughout the colony. We believe that if the State, which now buys a large quantity of coal at a moderate price, would soil such coal at a fair price to the consumers the grievance now complained of would vanish, and the result would bo that while the State would fix a fair retail price of coal, the present dealers would sell at such price and would not bo injured.”