WELLINGTON'S COAL SUPPLIES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17128, 25 April 1921, Page 9

WELLINGTON'S COAL SUPPLIES.

STRICTEST ECONOMY URGED. With a change in tho weathor, householders have been clamouring for coal supplies, only to find that the merchants cannot fulfil their requirements (says Saturday's Wellington "Po'at"). Ihiring the summer months x% was impossible to build up stocks for the winter. On Friday evening the Wellington Coal Trade Committee issued a statement reviewing tho whole position. The committee stated that it could not, with any degree of certainty, forecast future events, but it was quite plain that householders would not bo rid of the shortage this winter, and .the need, therefore, for economy still existed. As has bcon previously pointed out, 95 per cent, of the coal which comes to the City of Wellington is seaborne, and the arrival of supplies is subjected to conditions prevailing at Newcastle and on tho West Coast. In this connexion, very few permits have been issued at Newcastle for Maitland coal for New Zealand this month, and the immediate prospects aro none too good. This is a suitable coal for gas making and domestic purposes, and is of the class which is most needed here at present. Conditions on the West Coast have also been unfavourable as regards shipping, and the bar at Greymouth has been unworkable on and>,otf for tho past ten days. The public should not blame the local coal merchants for any delay which takes place in executing their orders, as the time taken is due solely to the lack of "supplies. At the present moment, most of the retail merchants are behind in their deliveries. Fortunately, the xity is in a much better position for supplies of firewood than it has been since the war. Stocks have beeu accumulated during the fine weather, and supplies of good, dry wood are now quite easily obtained. The Wellington Coal Trade Committee draws the attention of householders to the need for exercising the strictest economy in the use of coal, and to use wood and coke wherever possible, especially for open fire 3.