LATE LOCALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1921, Page 3

LATE LOCALS.

“The quality of sheep dip to-day is unsatisfactory,” said Mr G. P. Johnston, chairman of the Provincial Executive of the Southland Farmers’ Union, on Saturday, when the question ol admitting dips duty tree was being discussed. He went on to say that he was against the proposal, and his experience recently had been that he required to test his dip with ewe ticks lie fore dipping. Other members were of the opinion that instructions issued with the dip were useless. It was decided that, as the tariff was being revised next session, the Dominion Executive be asked to watch the revision in the interests of the laimet . “Southland Times.”

It has been announced already that some Welsh coal is coining to New Zealand to the order of the Government, savs the “Dominion.” The quantity has not been stated, but it will not be less than 10,000 tons. There seems to p . no "-rent difficulty about placing orders for Welsh coal at a price, and shipping for the transport of the eoal round the world is t-asiiy obtainable under present conditions. Ibe cost of the coal will he high, hut no necessarily higher, on a basis ot tut value, than some of Lie coal that ha. been landed here from sources of supply nearer to hand. The Welsh coal is of high quality, and the most expensive coal that the Government has brought duriim the period of local shortage ms been the inferior stuff. Tests have shown, it is stated, that some of the imported coal, on a basis ot luel yajm, has cost the equivalent ot over Llo ■> ton for the best West Coast coal, lhe problem, of course, has been to ge anv coal at all for the essential servfces of the Dominion. The reduced production of the local mines has driven the Government to buy coal wherever it | las been obtainable.