THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 8

THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE

COAL SUPPLY COUNCILLOR M'KENZIE'S ATTITUDE (To the Editor.) air,—At last night's meeting of the Oily Council the quetion of coal saving was introduced, as reported in TtfKiioMiNiOi of this morning, and your paper reports 1110 as being tho only councillor unconvinced by the report for tho drastic changes suggestod. I am pleased to state that Councillor Norwood also holds the view that more information is necessary before tho change is effected. To mako tho matter clear to your many readers, I state that there was no valid reason given either by His Worship the Mayor or tho City Engineer to plunge headlong into tho scheme.

My chief reason in asking for information, which I think is duo to tho general public, was to got an idea why Wellington should bo tho only corporation to adopt such a scheme. Surely this should bo a. national move, and backed up by figures to show the councillors that they are on solid ground. Several broad statements wore- given last night, but facta don't bear these out. For instance, one councillor mentioned tho fact that boats over 3000 tons were going to bo taken over by tho Government for Imperial purposes. I stated that I did not know of one collier trading to the coast of that size, and on inquiry this morning I find I am correct. We also heard that half the coal used in Now Zealand came'from Australia, which is also incorrect, as is shown by tho Mines Roport, viz.:

Produced inN.Z. Imported. In 1915 2,208,62-1 353,171 Inl'JU 2,275,1>U 518,07 ft In 1913 1,668,005 168,010 Thus, on the top of these figures, is there wonder why I am hard to convince? I admit now that there was a decrease

in tho 11115 output of lill.lKIII lons, hut there was an increase in mil output of 387,60!) tons, anil, given iinriniil conditions, why should Ilium he 11 decrease? Everybody expects ii.ili'ci'«ii>.» up l<> now, but as wo have weathered the slni'in, should not Hint ho hiiiiii righlcd? Now lot us look at tlio coal |»i'«lil in h business miinuor, anil 1 it.-;k .you, Mr. Editor, is there a njuuil argument in these abnormal limes why fhu Railway .Department should lm allowed to si ore up large rescinds whilst other public services are allowed to go shortF This week two large colliers camo in with big supplies, all for the railways, and other services aro kept short. May 1 bo pardoned if t throw out a suggestion, and I think tho best interests could bo served ns follow;—

(a). The presont Coal Board be strengthened by tho inclusion of one or more men actually identified with the "trade," and all requisitions from public bodies, gas companies, and manufacturers, be made direct to tho board.

(b) That a shipping director be appointed wjth powvr to control and direct nil available tonnage, he to attend tne board meetings and provide space for the. requirements as approved by the board. (c) The lxiard to take over the output of tho mines at f.o.b. rates as exist, or may be determined, and it would assist and simplify mattors if only ono grade ot coal was sole, and then the price could bo fixed by the board to the various consignees. With such knowledge and information on hand, tho best, possible national service could bo maintained with even distribution, and tnt, class of business most essential could bo served in rotation as was required.—l am, etc., LEOIvAIiD M'KKNZIE. May 18, Sir,—Tho city has never been so perturbed as it is to-day, except (in preDominion days) when a, whale, was reported at Island Bay beach by the "Windier." Old residents, including the chairman of the Efficiency Board, and Mr. J. I'. Luko (Mayor of Wellington), will remember this, and what a hoax it was. .The position with regard to the alleged "coal shortage" and "gravity of position" as regards the electric light and tramways is as big a hoax, and should not bo swallowed by citizens. Regarding tho electric light nothing need be said because if tho City Council want extra supplies there should bo no difficulty in getting them. .Regarding tho tramways the position is somewhat different, and the ratepayers will be pleased to know that one ot" the factors governing tho proposed increased tramway fares is the fact that tho tramway power-house (according to tho powers that be) can only burn one coal coming from tho West Coast. No other coal is suitable; so if.a disturbance was to occur at this mine ns occurred at Brunncr the tramways would have to stop running. This is a fact that cannot be denied. It is a, position that is probably unprecedented in Australasia. Experiments have been mado, and what is the result? Ratepayers can tako it as they like, but that is tho position, and no other coal is burnt there.

I would like to ask the Efficiency Board, Mr. Luke, and Mr. Morton whether they have inquired into the following facts: Can, they say how much of tho class of coal burnt at the tramway power houso has arrived in AVellington since the strike? Also (a) how much of this went to the power house, (b) how much wont into hulks; (c) how much went into tho country; and (d) where did'tho balance, if any, go? ' j The first question should hardly be necessary. The second is necessary, and the following should be borne in mind: (a) that if this is the only class of coal that can be burnt the Efficiency Board should stop vessels of the mosquito licet or any other vessels burning this coal, and it should go to the power house, mid tho steamers should burn other coal. Tho same remarks apply to (c) (d) as regards the substitution. The gentlemen mentioned should also find out how much of this particular coal is mined, and where it goes to, and why it does not go to tho trniwy power house. This would bo true efficiency, nil would let steamers, tho country users, and the tramway power house, run at normal. If the particular class of coal wanted for tho power house is wanted for gas-making, the difficulty could bo got over by (a) diverting the present State coal used for buukering to the Gas Company and using other coal for tho bunkering, (b) stopping screened coal going to householders, and substituting the stock of coal that is at present deteriorating on the reclaimed land, and (c) stopping screened coal (it is tho best of our coal) going to householdersT only the Gas Company and the tramway reserve stocks are• built up. The proposals forwarded by Mr. Morton at the request of His Worship and the Efficiency Board are absolutely hysterical and not 'needed. Tho Hon. Mr. Myers states in to-night' 6 paper that 30,000 tons monthly are coming from Newcastle. This, coupled with the fact that the West Coast mines have got back to normal, and that the ovorseas shipping is easing off, that the freezing companies and dairying companies are now in their dormant season, should dissipate all doubts about the coal shortage. The effect of the statement about the City Council's temporary shortage wffl only niako coal matters worse, because everybody gets cold feet and wants to keep them warm by building up coal reserves. If tho council had only tnhen action regarding extra stov- , age accommodation cither on land or in hulks, the present position would not have come about. If thp Efficiency Board is they will start, off by making lip national efficiency and not ask Wellington City alone to carry the cost. The coal shortage is only a temporary ono caused by the "go-slow" policy of the strikers, and things will soon be back to normal.

In the meantime I ask city councillors at their meeting on Monday to put up a good fight, find out the true facts of the case, and I am sure when they do this and right methods are adopted both tramways and light will go on at normal. I will end by Councillors M'Kenzie, Shorland. and Norwood for looking after the citv's interests.—l am. etc.. - CALOBTFIC VALUE.