STATE COAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 314, 2 July 1912, Page 5

STATE COAL

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington. Yesterday. A deputation from the Wellington Trades and Labor Count!! waited on the Minister of Minos to-day to complain of the shortage of State coal in Wellington. It was suggested that an effort should be made to work the State mines to the limit of their capability, that the price of coal could be reduced without diminishing the, profits to the State, and that the Government should get its own colliers instead of paying from £54,000 to £OO,OOO a v car ' in freight.

The Minister said a loss was occurring through the Department being unable to fill orders, but it was not the fault of the Government. It had a bar harbor to contend with, and the new mine at Point Elizabeth was not opened up yet. A great deal of money had to be expended in getting the railway line into the mines, but within the next three or four months he hoped to be able to supply all requirements and to have a little to spare. While it is true that £54,000 in freights was paid to the shipping companies last year, the State had got a quid pro quo, loose coal, unsaleable in the depot, being purchased by the companies. If in office when the mine was opened up he would urge on the Government the necessity of getting vessels to carry the output. Regarding the suggestion that the Government should secure a mine in the North Island, the Minister said that the difficulty was there were no Crown lands in coal bearing areas in the North Island. It was desirable, however, to have a State mine in the North Island if it was possible to get one.