Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Penarth Dock closure in 1936 . . .

Other factors are the large investments of British nationals in foreign enterprises using coal; probably the preferential treatment of non-coal producing British colonies ; the large domestic consumption due to the high industrialization of the United Kingdom; and the use of fines in manufacturing briquets. The control of the docks in foreign countries is no doubt a further factor, a subject no doubt deserving the attention of American shipowners. The world-wide British banking facilities are not so important to the British coal exporter inasmuch as most sales are made practically for cash, the coal exchange requiring payment by the broker of colliery invoice seven days from the date of the invoice, which is not dated until all of the cargo is loaded.

Another condition making for the success of Welsh coal is its preparation. Within the past few months several mines have been closed down due to the failure of the miners to produce clean coal.

Disadvantages Encountered in South Wales Coal Trade.

Among the natural disadvantages are the location of the loading ports on tidal waters requiring the locking of all vessels; the importation of practically all the pit wood used (imports were valued at £3,365,600 in 1920), as well as all lubricating oils. Among the created disadvantages are high taxes, failure to use machinery to a greater extent, the use of small railway cars holding of only about 10 tons, the length of time required to load coal into steamers and, at this time, refusal of labor to work overtime at the ship-loading tips.

May 1936 - Railway Agreement (Penarth Dock) - House of Commons.

Captain A. Evans - asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the Government guaranteed railway loan has been or is to be appropriated to the Great Western Railway Company; whether he will make any allocation or any part thereof conditional upon the reopening of the Penarth dock and require that there shall be no other similar curtailment of public services; and whether he will provide in any fresh grant of State assistance for similar safeguards to prevent the reduction of employment by the concerns so aided?