Mr. B. Taylorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of open-cast coal on stock at a place of which he has been informed; the reason for this dumping of coal; the distance it is being trans- 1737W ported from the site of operation to the dumping place and the cost per ton for transport.
Major Lloyd GeorgeThere are 28,000 tons of coal in stock at the place in question which was selected as a central point for the erection of a screening plant and as a stocking ground for the output from a number of open-cast sites, within a radius of six miles, in the area. Shortage of labour and transport difficulties in recent months have delayed the completion of the screening plant and disposal of production, but it is anticipated that the plant will be ready for operating by the end of June next. A buffer stock will be held at this point to meet disposals when the production falls in the winter months. The cost of transport from the working face to the stocking ground, a distance of some six miles, was 3s. 5d. per ton.