WEST COAST COAL TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 2

WEST COAST COAL TRADE.

AN EXPLANATION. WBSTPORT, September 1. . In* connection with the reduction by 200 men of hands at the local colliery, the following information is published : — The annual output of the Westport Coal . Company is about 600,000 tons, of which I only about 200,000 tons is suitable for i "screening. Of this quantity the result is ■ 90,000 tons of screened coal (or 45 per I cent.), and 110,000 tons of small coal (or 55 per oent.). The remaining 400,000 tons has to be sold as steam coal. The mines, can be" worked at their full capacity only when the demand for the different sorts is in the above proportions. At present the demand is chiefly- for screened coal. Orders for this class of coal cannot a-lfl be fulfilled owing to the poor demand for steam and small coal. Newcastle coal, when screened, gives 80 per cent, of screened and 20 per cent, only of small coal. The company will lose heavily by knocking off a shift at Granity. As the trade improves the hands wiM immediately be" put on, but it is doubtful if the second shift can be resumed this year. The company cent a man to the East to try to open a market there for its coal, and followed this visit up by consignments of coal, but the loss was disastrous, and the shipments had to be discontinued.