THE COAL PANIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3089, 21 May 1917, Page 6

THE COAL PANIC

THE POSITION AS IT EEALLY IS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l read ivith much interest that "with reference to a statement that the coal position is- a 'hoax,' or not yet of sufficient gravity as to cause anxiety to the public, your evening contemporary has been informed on the best authority that the serious character of the situation at the most cannot be over-esti-mated." Unlike your contemporary I have not to go' to any authority and I state here, and state it absolutely definitely that there is no reason to be alarmed for the co.il position as regards supplies to the City Council, and am prepared not to give a vague statement, nor rely on pre-vision as per your contemporary. For the journal in question to draw a comparison between the position of (he Bailway Department, and the council is absolutely unfair and misleading. The railway hums screened coal which is produced in less quantities at the New Zealand, mines than other coal, say 33 per cent., so that if they got all the supplies from New Zealand mines they" could (jet, it would onlv amount to one-third, whereas the coal the council uses is practically procurable from the mines on the "ratio of two to onp of screened—probably morn.

To back nn my statements regarding the fallacy of shortages, I state the following:-— That according to the Hon. Mr. Myers. arrangemiMitsinavß been made for 3G0.000 tons of Newcastle to be imported, as against 350,000 tons in 1915; 1916 figures I cannot get for the moment, but they were probably considerably less. As regards the position of the New Zealand mines—l only refer to West Coaat mines because they mainly supply ■Wellington—thn following are the facts:— The Blackball mine has produced practically only half its output since December, owing to it having felt the "go slow" policy over a more extended period than anv other mine. The State miners have also felt the "go slow" policy severely. The Paparoa mine has also got its proportion of the "go slow" policy, and for a mine with a medium output was hit hard. The North Brunner and Brunner have both been producing quantities that could be increased with satisfaction to the owners, but their outputs are small and of no moment as compared with the larger mines. The two Westport mines—Westport and Stockton—did not feel the "go slow" policy till February-March, and on top of this came the strike. From these two mines the bulk of the coal supplied to the council comes, and deliveries have bwm made to the council this week. Tour readers will thus =ee that the New Zealand mines have had a strenuous lime, hut by helping each other over the stilo they havo managed to deal with a difficult situation, and still keep things moving. It may be added here that during the strike period shipping was considerably helped by the Munitions Department from stocks of Japanese coal held by them.

During the period mentioned there may have been a shortage—some users may have been delayed, but this fact remains and cannot be disputed, that there are thousands of tons of coal still held by -tbo Munitions Department untouched at Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, bgsides the fact lhat there is probably more coal in hulks at Wellington to-day than there has been for many months, and I challenge anyone to refute these statements. It is also worthy of note t'hnt during the "go slow" policy aiul the strike practically tho only curtailment of services was made by tho Railway Department, all the other users of New Zealand coal, including the Wellington City Council—except in a very mild mamter— the Wellington Gas Company, and other users throughout the Dominion, kept going at normal. Tho TT.S.S. Co. laid up very few vessels, and practically all the mosquito fleet kept running at normal. Probably the peoplo who aro in most need of coi\l ore yomo of the gas companies, and the difficulty with l'egard to them is that they were users of Newcastlei/conl, but as the Government requires slocks for railways, no Newcastle supplies *nre available for gas companies, who will, therefore, have to:

(a) Either replenish by New Zealand coal, or (h) ask the Government to give them a certain amount of space for gas coal ex each collier. ■ .

The present shortage is a, "paper shortage.' and has been accentuated T>y the fact that the Government—rightly so—have been collecting statistics through the Mnnitions Denartment and finding out the wants of users, and naturally if a coal user expects supplies to he, nifited out he wants to ask for ns lunch as possible. The Department also i=: finding out by means of a census what stocks are held. They also have found out what the mines can supply, but the one thing they ■ cannot find out—and which absolutely governs the whole position —is what coal is goiu 1 ,' to lie used actually iiml not theoretically. This Department lias done good work in making importations from Newcastle (o mainly fill Government supplies, but they have only done so because private enterprrse could not do fo owing to the fact that l.ho conl bouts usually bringing these supplies vera diverted to other purposes, and th» Government through tlicir Munitions Department have made arrangcHKMits lo bring across MOJOO tons of coal for railways and other purposes. There is no kudos attached to it; it was only a natural sequence of event*. On the other hand, I have not heard of any single coal company owning a mino in New Zealand that, has asked or wants the Government to control the coal situation. They are quite capable of controlling their own businesses. Regarding the railway requirements, they are undoubtedly short, but the importations from Newcastle will see them thromih. and it also must, be remembered that this is the dormant season for the railways, as the carriage of wool, live stock, cheese, and butter is practically finished for the season, and it also must ho remembered that notwithstanding all tho New Zealand mine owners had to contend with they supplied the railways with some tens of thousands of tons of conl. Take the position to-day: All ,the

mines on tho West Coast are in full swing and producing more coal than they have been for many months. These aro not statements based on flights of fancy —but hard facts. You will remember that I stated in my previous letter that thero was no cause lor wgrry on the council's part, and if your readers will only noto tliati (a) Tho council hold only 6ix weoks' supply of coal at any ono time, say, 3000 tuns. (b) That neither during the "go-slow" policy nor the strike were either tho cars or electric light stopped or seriously curtailed. (c) That although 6tocks aro down still supplies are coming in. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that if tho council could keep on running during tho "go-slow" period and during the strike, and eat up their email—l might say a perilously small stock for a concern burning 500 tons a week—they can keep running now the mines, after practically five months of delays, are back to normal. 'Die people of New Zealand need not fear a coal shortage as long as the New Zealand mines keep working as thej aro now, for the following reasons:— (a) That for the next five months, owing to so many coal-users being closed down for the season stocks can be replenished.

(b) Thero.will bo less oversea steamers to bunker. A shortage may, arise for the following reasons:— That the Government may require the vessels carrying coal across from Newcastle to carry wheat. (b) The Admiralty may ivant coal or transports may want coal. But, as against this, we hare the facts that as regards (a) the importation of Newcastle coal for 1916 -was not very heavy, and that the Hon. Mr. Myers stated that ho had arranged for 30,000 tons monthly. As regards (b)' it must be remembered that the New Zealand coal mines have already supplied large quantities for the two purposes mentioned, and the quantity so far as is known will not bo more than previousiy-may-be less—according to route taken by .vessels. Summing up the -whole position, I am absolutely confident that the position for tho council coal supply can be met. Bald statements made "oh the best authority" cannot be taken unless they are supported by facts, and I take it that until the City Council are informed of the facts city councillors have no right to relegate the position they hold—as the citizens' trustees—owing to any suggestions from the National Efficiency Bqi.ro , , ■unless commanded to do so by tho Government, and they can rest assured if the present position holds good the Government should take no action with regard to bodies like the City Council when economy can be effected in other places without much worry to anyone. "During tho controversy nobody, including your contemporary's "best, authority," has told either the public or the council that the present suppliers to the council are unable to supply or have notified that they intend to reduce supplies! The public will be far from satisfied -with unsupported statements, and if the position is as bad as is made out— Triiich I deny-then tlie Efficiency Board,' the Munitions Board, and the Board of Trade—the latter being a judicial bodycould take evidence on oath from coal companies, etc., and all interested parties, and statistically prove if the position was one of gravity. The present position is that'the Government are in possession of a multitude of information gathered from suppliers and users, and it is absolutely remarkable, how a position of panic can be magnified by statistics, Tvhich before now, although collated in gflod faith, hare been found when put to the test to be fallacious and misleaain" The public -will be satisfied only to put up with the inconveniences and sacrifices proposed, providing the report of a responsible judicial body show that course to be the only wai out to save the situation. _.. The present proposal before the Uty Council is lidioulous.. When coal was not being produced th'e council run its eervices at practically full power, and now it gets "pannicky" because it has used up stocks which can be replaced.— I am, etc., CALOE . IFI c VALUE.