GAS SUPPLY AND COAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 119, 6 February 1918, Page 6

GAS SUPPLY AND COAL

COMPANY WISHES TO BUILD UP . STOCKS. On the subject of coal supplies for gas-manufacturing purposes, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received from tho chairman of directors of the Wellington Gas Company (Dr. C. Prendergast Knight) a request for his imprimatur in an appeal to tho Government for extended facilities for obtaining stocks of coal. Dr. Knijjht hat. written to the Mayor a" follows:—"As an entire stoppage of the gas supply will bring about a serious condition of affairs to the citizens of Wellington, my board feels justified in asking you, as the Mayor of tho city, to support ; ts appeal to tho Prime Minister lor facilities to be granted to the Wellington Gas Company in order that a small reservo stock of coal may bo accumulated as a protection against any irregularities that may arise in future shipments." •

In response to this request, the Mayor has written to the Priirio Minister as follows:—

"I understand that the Wellington Gas Company lias approached you to take action to seenro to them larger supplies of coal than have recently been received, so as to enable thorn to build lip the reserve necessary for the approaching winter. I feel it my duty, in the interests of the citizens of Wellington, to endorse sheir application, awl sincerely hope you will give the matter your cordial support. "Although the Gas Company is a pri-vately-owned undertaking, it is carrying out a great pubi'c service, and restrictions in the supply of lislit, heat, and power must he moslj disastrous. The city-owned electrical undertaking cannot serve the public in any greater measuro than at present, so that in the event of a shortage, of coal for the Gas Company during tho winter, their customers could not be supplied by substituting electrical energy in place of coal gas. The council's requirements in tiie matter of niachinerv to increase their capacity have not been available on account of war coiK]il,ior.s." In reply, the Prime Minister wrote to the Mayor yesterday that he had noted tlm request and would be nleas-i ed to confer with the Minister of Supplies and Munitions with a vw to seeing whether anything could lie done to help the Gas Company in obtaining further coal supplies.