On the 16th November I made a statement here regarding the measures that were being taken to insure a supply of fuel, and in that statement I indicated that these measures, although not large, would involve a certain substantial liability in the event of the normal source of supply becoming available at a date earlier than could be anticipated. That situation has since arisen. Supplies have become available earlier than was anticipated, and this Vote is for the purpose of meeting the Government's commitments. At the end of October, when it became necessary to take measures on behalf of the Government of a special type, the situation with regard to fuel was as follows:— The supply of coal on private order delivery during November and December amounted to 95,000 tons. That represents about three weeks' consumption in Dublin under normal conditions, but we looked to it being about five weeks' consumption, on the basis that the railways, gas, and electricity works were excluded, as it was thought that they were going to fend for themselves. The orders were consequently short of requirements in the two months November and December, and if the strike continued, or even if the strike was settled, there would be a considerable interval between the closing of the strike and the date on which supplies from England became available.
At that time I was unable to obtain from the British Government any forecast as to the end of the strike and when supplies from England might be expected. It was only, in fact, on the 24th November that we got any definite information, and when the information did come it was to the effect that supplies of a certain amount of British coal would be available on the 29th November. At the end of October a decision was taken that supplies on private order should be supplemented for the ensuing six weeks to the extent of about 35,000 tons, to be delivered mainly at the beginning of December. That meant that total provision was made for eight weeks to the extent of about 128,000 tons—95,000 tons on private order and 35,000 tons for which we were making arrangements. That represented a normal import to Dublin for four and a half or six weeks, if we excluded, as before, the larger consumers. It will be seen that the commitments were on a moderate scale, having regard to the situation at the time the orders were placed. Arrangements were made with the Coal Merchants' Association to the effect that the Association would finance the purchase of the Government orders and provide for their distribution to the consumer at a price to be added to the c.i.f. price in Dublin. That addition was fixed by my Department and it ran to 22/- a ton. A further agreement was made that if within seven days from the date of discharge the Association did not take delivery of any of the cargoes ordered by the Government that part was to be taken up by the Government. In all, our commitments were 33,000 tons.
I cannot be more precise at this stage, as a percentage had to be allowed for inaccurate weights, waste from slack, and so forth. 4,500 tons were immediately disposed of at the end of November, and when the release of British coal was announced it was found possible to cancel an order of 1,700 tons. That left 27,000 tons, most of which arrived last week, or will arrive this week. That has not yet been disposed of; a payment for it has now to be made. The average c.i.f. price in Dublin for this; including a certain amount of brown coal and briquettes, will run to £3 10s. per ton.
