THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 6

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

STEADY DEPLETION OF STOCKS. (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 18. The Hon. A. M. Myers, referring to tho distribution of coal, stated to-day that figures submitted by the Government Statistician showed a steady depletion" of stocks throughout the Do* minion. The shortage in fuel was most felt in hard coal supplies, and this was being met bv encouraging a more extensive use of lignite coals. Every enterprise concerned had readily lent itself to the directions he had found it necessary to make, and this attitude on the part of consumers had largely contributed to the fact that no activity so far had ceased to operate for lack of coal. Under war conditions the greatest difficulty was being experienced in securing sufficient tonnage to supplement the lequiremoncs of New Zealand coal consumers. As the result of this, the concentration of a substantial proportion of the tonnage available on Uie carriage of coal from Newcastle was necessary, and this action was correspondingly felt in the inability of the f-liipping companies to give the fullest attention to some other lines, notably hard wood.