SERIOUS LOSS TO INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1946, Page 5

SERIOUS LOSS TO INDUSTRY

-Press Association

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GAS IS SHORT

Bv Teleciravh-

AUCKLAND, Aug. l-. With a constant- reserve of 15,(J()tJ tons of coal suitable for blending and upon whicli the company could draw in case of emergency, tlie Auckland Gas Cov. could avoid tlie present gas sliortage, according to evidence given at a conference of consumers and Goveriiment representatives under tlie cluiinnanship of tlie Mayor, Mr. Allum. The possibilily of exploiting coal resources outside Xew Zealand, particulnrly in Canada, was discussed with a view to overconiing the natiomil sliortage which was attributed m several instaiices to lack of niiners, too short working hours, and the recent sliipping strikes. Four Auckland Meiubers of Parlia ment uudertook to place Ihe suggestions of the conference before the Minister of Mines, lion. ,T. O 'Brien, and, if possible, before tlie Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. Wtating that the alisence of ari assurance that gas would be made available for industry in tlie near future, had prompted the meeting, Mr. K. H. Hunter, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, welcomed the opportunity of ullowing in dustrial ieaders to discuss their problems. A loss in working hours and production involving many thousands. of pounds, was attributed to tlie sliortage of gas by re))resentatives of Ihe city's leading manufacturing tirms. A factory making foodstutTs reported that its fmaueial loss was £1000 a dav, while in lliree weeks its production had dropped by 120 tons. During that. time the employeos had worked only 21 days While he, recognised the diilieulties experienced by manufacturers, the geueral manager of tlie Auckland Gas Company, Mr. R. Worley, said the gas works had experieuced a shortuge of 3000 tons in coal delivorips this year