FOR TH138 1020
INCREASED COAL EXPORTS TO JAPAN
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister
for National Development, Senator W. H. Spooner, M. M.
The New South Wales coalmining industry had increased its
trade with Japan at the expense of the United States, the
Minister for National Development, Senator Snoonor, said in
Cessnock yesterday.
The American share of coal exports to Japan had fallen from
60.2% in 1960 to 53.4% in 1961, he said.
Australia in 3960 supplied 16.6/ o of Japanese coal imports,
but by 1961 the proportion had risen to 23.
" This is a feather in the cap of the New South Wales
coalmining industry," the Minister said. " But we will need to
fight hard to maintain this trade. Export business is always
fiercely competitive.
" We can expect to be challenged for the Japanese market.
This is why, when the New South Wales Minister for Mines,
Mr. J. B. Simpson, and I went to Japan two years ago we
arranged with the Japanese steel industry to purchase their
coal requirements on long-term contracts in consideration of our
respective governments pushing ahead with the port
reconstruction prograrmme at Newcastle, Port Kembla and Balmain.
" The main proportion of this expenditure falls upon the
New South Wales Government. But I am glad to say that the
Commonwealth is providing œ 1 million as a grant to New South
Wales and lending another œ 1,650,000."
Senator Spooner was speaking at the inauguration of a new
bowling green at Cessnock, With Mr. Simpson, the Minister for
Mines, he handed the green over to the Cessnock Bowling Club
on behalf of their respective governments.
The Senator said that Australia faced great changes which
would follow Britain's entry into the Common Market, They would
necessitate re-thinking, and some readjustment of many of
Australia's trading activities
" We have anticipated this," he said. " Much has been done
already and in particular the coal industry has given a national
lead. " We foresaw the effect in local markets of competitive fuels.
We sought export business and sought it successfullyo
" Six years ago the total overseas sales from the State was
204,000 tons. In -; 96-1/ 62 we sold more than 3,162,000 tons
overseas, Although it is unlikely that we will repeat this
level this year, yet we anticipate that we shall sell approximatel.
2 million tons, and the Joint Coal Board is confident that there
will be steady increases thereafter."
The Minister went on to speak of great improvements
which had occurred in the coalmining industry in the past few
years: Coal was in ample supply;
Quality of coal had been improved by the introduction
of washeries and treatment plants;
Coal prices were about -15% lower than they were in 1952;
o There had been a great decline in industrial disputes,
In 1949/ 50 the percentage of possible manshifts lost
was 14.28%, whereas the figure was down to 1.91% on
June 30, 1961, ooo
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2
One of the contributing causes for these big improvements had
been the betterment of social amenities on the coalfields. These
had been made poEsible by grants from the Welfare Fund of the
Joint Coal Board.
The Federal Government had contributed œ 1,890,000 to the
Fund, and the N. S, W. Government œ 969,502: a total of œ 2,860,402
by the two governments.
The Welfare Fund had contributed to the capital cost of the
new Cessnock bowling green to the extent of œ 1,000, which had
been provided in equal shares by the Commnonwealtn and State
Governments. Other guests invited to the special luncheon and handing-over
ceremony included Mr. G, NEILLY, Mr. K. BOOTH, M. L. A.;
Mr. A. JAMES, M. HR,; Messrso S. C. COCHRAN, S. FLOWERS and B. W.
HARTNELL, of t-he Joint Coal Board; the Mayor of Cessnock,
Alderman BROWN, and the Deputy Mayor, Alderman BLAIR; Mr. J. W.
STEPHENSON, Town Clerk, and Inspector SEWELLo
SYDNEY.
Septcmber 24th, 1962. P. M.