In connection with rumours or definite charges of profiteering on the part of coal dealers, an official of ihe Shanghai Municipal Council's Supplies and Fuel Committee definitely refuted these allegations in an interview with the "North-China Daily News" yesterday afternoon, when he pointed out that although a certain increase was to be noted, this rise in price was solely due to special circumstances prevailing as a direct result of the hostilities and in fact, represented little or ra profit to the dealers.
forth-China Daily News" was shown a statement which listed the prices et which competitive bitu~ ruinous coals were selling up to August 13—when hostilities around Shanghai opened—and those now asked. From that statement, it was clear that the difference in price on a delivered basis is, on an average, about $7 a ton. This is accounted for very largely by delivery charges and tolls for all stocks held above the boom across the river at Nantao, plus an allowance of $1.50 for additional sea freight on replacements, which figure is considered ty no means exaggerated The figures given in the statement form a pretty telling argument against charges of profiteering, as the return or yield on an ex-wharf basis to the owner to-day appears to be no higher than it was before the "trouble," the price rise being accounted for solely by the extraordinary charges referred to above. The "North-China Daily News" was informed that a number of leading coal merchants had been interviewed as regards stocks in Pootung and elsewhere.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.