PRICE OF COAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8475, 29 June 1907, Page 5

PRICE OF COAL.

At the meeting of the Masterton and District Workers' Land Settlement League, held last evening, considerable discussion took place in reference to the price of coal in Masterton. Mr J. "Mackay opened the discussion by stating that he thought the Government should be requested to charge freight on coal for twenty miles from a port, and allow it to be carried the remainder of the way free of charge. As a somewhat similar concession had been made to agriculturalists in the matter of freight on lime he thought this a reasonable request. Other members thought this was rather too much to ask of the Government. In reference to duty being charged on coal to consumers in inland towns, and not in ports, Mr W. Pragnell stated that this was only charged on imported coal. The people in Wellington who got Newcastle coal direct from the steamer were not charged , duty, but directly the coal was put on trucks to be sent by rail a tariff of 2s 5d per ton was charged on it. The consumer in inland towns therefore had to pay this duty in addition to the cost of carriage. This was done to protect the local coal-mining industry. Mr R. Rigg said that he thought that the Government might be induced to do away with the duty on Newcastle coal, but he was doubtful if they would make the concession Mr Mackay suggested. The discussion closed without a motion being tabled on the matter.

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