COAL FROM NEWCASTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1919, Page 2

COAL FROM NEWCASTLE.

PLEA FOR MOKE SHIPS. STATE CONTROL OF VESSELS. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Mr. S. C. Smith (Taranaki) asked the Prime Minister: (1) Whather, in view of the fact that refrigerating steamers are urgently required to lift frozen produee and such steamers are now subject to great delays in bringing eoal cargoes', the Government is taking any action regarding utilising the Union Steam Ship Company's steamers to bring eoal from Newcastle, as it is reported that the s.s. Waihora, Kurow, and 'fe'airuna are going into the Pacific trade? (2) Whether, seeing that practically all the cargo vessels belonging to the Union Company that were lost during the war period have been' replaced with new tonnage, the Government is taking any action to ensure that the new tonnage is replaced on the Newcastle coal trade, so that ample stocks of coal will be assured for | the railways and other industries? Mr. Massey replied: (1) Urgent representations have been made by the Government to the Union Steam Ship Company to place all steamers suitable for the carriage of coal in the Newcastle trade and two additional steamers, the Kaitangata and the Kaipoi (both of which are registered in New Zealand), intended to lift general cargo at Melbourne for New Zealand ports, have been diverted for the carriage of coal to the Dominion. With reference to the Waihora, the Kurow, and the Wairuna, all of which are registered outside the Dominion,- the Government strongly protested against these steamers being placed in the Pacific trade, but regulations are now being drawn Tip which will give the Government full control over all tonnage trading in New Zealand waters. (2) The Union Company has already been approached in this direction, and arrangements have been made to place the Kaiwarra on the Newcastle run on hei arrival in New Zealand waters.