THE COAL QUESTION

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1919, Page 6

THE COAL QUESTION

BOARD OF TRADE'S PROPOSALS. | (From Our Own Correspondent.) I Wellington, Juno 10. The hesitation of the Government about the publication of the report of the Board of Trade on the coal question seems to be due to causes that have made for inaction during the last three years and more. The Board of Trade, after a prolonged examination of the coal trade, has made recommendations that • involve the application of new principles :to the coal trade. A single political party might be prepared to take action, 'but the two parties forming the National •Government have not yet propounded—or drafted —their post-war policies. Their leaders are absent and they find themselves unable to make up their minds.

The Minister for Mines has recommended that the Government should acquire an area in the Waikato coalfield for the purpose of a State mine, fend this proposal has been approved by Cabinet. This arrangement indicates the trend of thought among a section of the Ministers, but it does not represent the National Government policy. The acquisition; of a coal-bearing area by the State has no direct bearing upon the imediate coal problem, since the country cannot wait for supplies until new mines have been developed, and it cannot work new mines while the supply of labor is inadequate for the existing ones. The publication of the Board of Trade's report will help the public to understand the coal situation, but it will not remedy the shortage. Inquiries in Wellington fail to produce any evidence that the solution of the problem is nearer than it was three months ago. The mine-owners and the miners are sparring with one another, with the possibility of an open quarrel at any time. The Government is talking of the conservation of supplies and is examining prospects of securing additional shipments from abroad. There is little comfort for the consumer in the situation.