THE COAL TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1925, Page 1

THE COAL TRADE.

SLACKNESS AT AIILLEItTON. 100 MEN DISMISSED: ['EY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WESTPORT, Feb. 25. One hundred and five employees of the Westport Coal Company employed at the Millerton Aline were given their notice this morning. On being asked the reason why, the General Manager of the Company stated that it was owing to the lack of orders, and to the slump in the coal trade. WESTPORT. Feb. 26. Owing to the slackness in trade, notice was given to-day to 102 men at the Westport Coal Company’s AliTlerton Aline, and it- is suggested that the Government might relieve the situation by jnishing on with the construction of the Buller Gorge Railway, and also the coastal road between Westport and Grcymuuth. COAL ENQUIRY. DUNEDIN. Feh. 20. The Commission of Inquiry on the rise of New Zealand coal on the railways ojiened its sitting in Dunedin today, Air If’. W. Furkert presiding. Evidence was given by Air Robert Lee, Managing Director of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, who said that the first falling off in Ins enmpnnys’ output was during the war. This was due to the Southland coal mines opening up and to the importation of Newcastle coal, which was being used extensively by the railways. When there was a shortage in the Dominion, the Railway Department used Kaitangata coal.

The Chairman: What about setting fire to the country round about? Witness said that they never had any trouble in that respect. The company would he prepared to supply 30,OOo’or 40,000 tons of coal per annum to the Department, which would mean employment for an additional 70 or 80 men. At present the company’s output had decreased about two-fifths as the result- of the falling off in trade, and there were throe or lour idle shifts in a fortnight. Last year, the company produced 80.000 tons. At present they were employing about, 280 men. Assuming that, they got- an order from the Government., it would not necessarily increase the population of Kaitangata. There were a lot of men hanging about the borough hoping for better times. Unless things improved, they would have to move elsewhere, and it was difficult for a coal miner to pick up outside employment. The piece-worker there was having a rocky time, and the ntan who owned his own house had to stnv there.