IRONICAL SITUATION

Chronicle (Levin), 14 February 1947, Page 5

IRONICAL SITUATION

— Press Assoeiation

No Raiiway Tracks To Take Coal Away GLOOMY WINTER OUTLGQK

3y Telegrapfi-

AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. The raiiway truck shortage reached serious proportions today vvhen the output oi' several Waikato coal mines was reduced bejause tiiere were not suffieient cruc'kg to car-ry away the coal. Ihe situation was not withont .rony as the Raihvay Department, earlier in the week, had appealed .'or more raiiway coal i'rom the uines oi' the area. Three mines eeased production early in the afternoon and two .others lost'a short period oi work. At Rotowaro and Alison, two mines oi Taupiri Coal Mines Ltd., work caine to a standstill at "2 p.m. md it is estiinated the eonsequent loss in production was between 300 and 400 tons. The Pukemiro uines truck supply ended at the snme time and its output dropped oetween oi) and 100 tons as a reuilt. Renown was- not affected out. at Clen Alton and McDonald mines the truck supply -ended ilmost at the close oi the day and \vork was stopped about .10 minutes early. It is expected suffieient waggons will be available toru orrow. Auckland raiiway officials stated there was no sign oi an i-rn-provement in coal stocks. Earlier this week less than a week's supply oi coal was in liand ior the «listrict north oi Taihape and the

amount oi coal being used has i ibeen great er than the supply corning into the yards. So far timetables have not b.een affected. There is a glooray outlook for the winter domestic coal supply which, in the opinion of a leading Auckland dealer, will be worse this winter than ever before. Regulations governing the supply oi' coal for domestic use were that the needs of commerce had first prioritv, it was stated. x\uthorijties had ensured that hospitals ! obtained all the coal they needed and any then left in the hands of merohants could be sold to the general public. Only a few raiiway trucks were available today to reeeive bulk sulphur from the Canadian steamer (latincau Park and after less than 100 tons oi' fertiliser had been discharged, work eeased for the day. Only a few hours work has been possib'l-e. cach day since thc Oatineau Park bcgan to land its cargo last Alondny.