BRITISH SHIPS AND AMERICAN COAL.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " f3ncraroa."] Sta,—I have just arrived in England from New Zealand, and at Norfolk (Virginia), where our ship called for coal, I was interested to learn that sufficient coal was being taken on board to relieve her of the necessity of taking any coal at English ports for her outward voyage. The ship belongs to an English shipping company. Before the war, I believe, British ships would have taken only sufficient coal at American ports to carry them to England, where they would have filled their bunkers for the outward voyage. Mostly, I believe, through the action of the British miner coal is cheaper at Norfolk (Virginia) than in England, hence British shipping firms putting money into American pockets instead of helping our own flesh and blood. Most of the passengers preferred to remain on board and endure the unpleasantness of coaling rather than pay the exorbitant sum of £2 17s. 6d. for the privilege of setting foot on American soil.—I am, Sir, ase.,
YORKSHIREHAN.
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