BRITISH COAL TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1926, Page 3

BRITISH COAL TRADE.

OIL NOT CONSIDERED RIVAL larger export wanted. [Reuter Telegrams.] LONDON. Jan. HI. Mr Evan Williams, President of the Mining Association, questioned by the Chairman of the Coal Commission. Sir Herbert Samuel, declared they were not afraid of the competition of oil in the future. He believed that in the case of big liners the cost of oil burning was greatly in excess of coal burning. There was no reason why. in the course of time, coal should not be put on liners in a form enabling it to be used with greater economy than oil.

Mr Williams expressed the opinion that the very existence of Britain depended upon a larger export ol coal. Large contracts were often lost simply through a difference of three halfpence or threepence per ton in price.

The Chairman declared that if the Association’s proposals were accepted the British miners would be working longer than the French, Belgian or German miners. Mr Williams replied that their wages would be considerably higher, and asserted that the unrest, in the industry wins (not spontaneous, but the result of a deliberate attempt by the miners’ leaders to prevent the reconstruction of the industry by private enterprise after decontrol. •A memorandum, prepared by the Mining, Association, and which was submitted prior to the taking of evidence, declared that if the railway wages bill reduced all rates on mineral goods traffic could lie reduced twenty-five per cent. LONDON, Jan. 13.

At the .resumption of the Coni Commission proceedings, Williams, crossexamined liy Herbert Smith (President of the Miners’ Federation), said he regarded the payment of six millions sterling yearly to the royalty owners equally ns justifiable as payment for pit wood, tie refused to consider reducing the payment or the nationalising of royalties and denied tTiat the miners were paid miserable wages.

Williams added the owners did not desire to wealcen or interfere with the Miners’ Federation, but they refused to negotiate a national agreement. He declared emphatically that there could be no real prosperity in the country until railway costs were brought down.