AUSTRALIAN COALMINES COMBINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 September 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN COALMINES COMBINE.

STEAMER REFUSES CARGO. Sydney, September 19. The Coal Vend formed some time ago is reported to be operating in connection with the coal triple in New Zealand. The steamer Edendale. after discharging a cargo of Now Zealand timVr, went to Newcastle to load coal for Wellington, but owing, it is sUtcd, to tlaction of the \end, her coal charter was cancelled. a! ;d Bhe was ordered to proceed to Port Stephens to In -i hardwood /or New Zealand. It is understood efforts are n, inmade to block any ~e w tonnage appear ing in the trade in future ' h. B^ hg J WWl * Wi " "*" «"»P'»yn.eiit fa the Newc-tst'e.Vew Zcahnd coil trade only nnder certain conditions

AX ALLIANCE WITH silli'l'lNG. SEW ZEALAND INTERESTS AFFECTED. Received Sept. 20, 0.55 am Tk. n i ,r Sydney, September In. M*7f o ,H ' Di WflS brou B ht int " exist«»e lor the purpose of controlling the output of practically the whole of the tEKJJ 0 ! u *"" the y<,w «istlc and Mjitland fields, „* , veII as , he market Proe_ of eoal The leading company WMCIi stood out was the Ncwcastle".Waltaend Company. A concurrent ngreement was come to ■With four of the inter-state shipping companies that they only should be •applied with coal intended for consumpnoa in certain States, bat it was not indicated at the time that the Union Company was Included, although from a Statement made to the Press by a coalbroker, the effect of the vend will be to block out of New Zealand trade m Heweutle coal all but new tonnage, except that of the Union Company or such TeeeeU »s that company chooses to reeogniM. Exceptions made are in favor of vested trading between New Zealand and Newcastle before the formation of the rend. It is not permissible to replace anv Of the old tonnage, whether wrecked ?'r worn out. or otherwise retired, except by permission of the Union Companv. Otttaide tonnage, therefore, would only b» able to get cargoes from mines outride the vend. The manager of one of the companies viUlm the combine said he had no personal knowledge of any refusal to sunply cargo for the steamer Ennerdale, or of any intention to block new tonnage, but it was a fact that the commitment* of various collieries at the present time were of ao extensive a character that they could not possibly undertake any new business. The growing demands of the inter-state and South American trade within recent times kept the collieries working to their utmost limit of output, and compelled them to absolutely decline extensive orders from I outaide.

Similar statements were made by others interested in the Newcastle fie|jls, that they found it-impossible to supply coal on short notice. The price of coal is likely to advance from 10b to lis before the end of the jur. The operations of the vend are likely to affect the New Zealand timber trade, as some vessels carrying timber will be Baai«« to secure return freight.