THE COAL COMBINE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8938, 2 October 1907, Page 2

THE COAL COMBINE.

Per Press Association. —Copyright, Sydney, October 1.

Further evidence of the existence of a coal combine' is forthcoming in the shape of a draft agreement between the Northern Colliery ; proprietors and the shipping companies. The document stipulates that the vendors agree to sell to the purchasing agents the whole of the coal which may be required by them to supply the trade of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. That such coal shall be from the collieries mentioned in the schedule. Tho price of coal to be settled in tho month of November of each year. The vital clause is clause 5, which reads as follows :—"The companies agree not to supply any coal for the consumption of any of the States mentioned except to the said purchasing agents or their nominees. Under clause 0 the purchasing agents agreo to buy from tho vendors the whole of the coal they require for inter-State trade.

Another significant clause states that the purchasing agents are to have discretion to increase the price by not exceeding 3s per ton. The agreement was supposed to have coma into force from Januray Ist, 1907. Meluouene, October 2. In reply to inquiries if Government intended to take action with regard to the coal vend, Mr Deakin said that a Bill would be introduced into t i 3 Senate to-day to amend the Ami-Trust Bill, giving Government further pov. ors of dealing with combines and trusts. Sydney, October 3. The meeting of northern colliery proprietors to-day, it is understood, will discuss raising the price of coal to 12s.