THE COAL VEND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 25 September 1907, Page 3

THE COAL VEND.

FAR-REACHING RAMIFICATIONS.

Sydney, September 24. The Herald's Newcastle correspondent, who has been investigating the conditions of the coal trade, says:— "On the surface of things it would appear that the principal complaint against the Vend is merely a general protest against the scarcity of the coal supply and the difficulty of securing cargoes.

"The ramifications of the Vend are far-reaching. The inter-State coal trade is virtually in the hands of the Vend and a shipping combine. Before coal is sold for shipment to foreign ports, the buyer has to disclose the destination. It is yet to be proved that there is any restriction of trade, although it has been established that trade must pass through channels approved by the Vend, it cannot lie said that the Vend has misused the price of coal. "The Miners' Federation favors the "'end. In it lies the hope of higher wages." Gibson, Bolton and Company, a firm of coal merchants in this State, has experienced no interference or restriction on the part of the I'nion Co. The company has not refused to carry the firm's eoal, although it was outside the Vend. Nor has the Union Co., as far as this firm knows, exercised any monopoly in the carriage of Vend coal to New Zealand. The fact is instanced that the Norwegian vessel Snlgr.-.n took 300 tons of Vend coal to Auckland in July last. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATING. Received Sept. 25, 1.4 a.m. Melbourne, September 24. In the House. Sir William Lyne, in reply to questions with regard to the Coal Vend, said the Government was making inquiries into the matter. If they discovered any weakness, an AntiTrust Law Bill would be introduced to deal with it.