MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 7

MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

TUE COAL SITUATION

PRIORITY PERMITS FOR IMPORTS

•Mated to iv representative of Tup piaili •»■? on~f ;ch no, V confront those who Ik-Is 4™ "'Purchasing suitablo s«tir£so--parllS "' hlt,l ° PeM bcfWo " 'ron J r > mmi <sate, L b " silless approximating >v 11m nT Seih " S llas heen conducted e suL^^™",. 1 ' 1 ihe direction of l * s «PP«es ior military purposes. darvcSTaiß T .f u ' for the calon(Wi, t- ?,' tho P° sit '°n is as follows:M,M,m. Of this sum business to tho value O-; ] m hmi ]flce(l "l> as tollowe— Auckland ; ]9ij j.p Wellington 290*678 Canterbury ~,. mm . ot »SO •• HC,161 Coal. As regards tho coal position, Mr. livers stated that although ho was taced 'this year with a somewhat reduced amount oi hard coal being available, fortunately the lignite output has ensed tho position; circumstances being sudli as to tail a ready markot for lignite supplies, will consequently the local trade com- • giuttcM he had set up in- chief centres .have been, ablo, in many localities, to <iivort hard coal hitherto used by householders for steam-raising purposes. J t will be realised that in normal times tho output of hard coal in New Zealand lias never been sufficient to meet tho full demands ol the Dominion. I'or instance, in 1916 wo had available 1,716,000 tons of hard coal. This was inada up or 1,123,000 tons of New Zealand West Coast «ml, plus 291,000 tons of Newcastlo coal. In. 1917 we had available 1,355,000 tons of ha r<l coal, which was made up of 1,121.000 tons of New Zealand Yv'est Coast coal, and 284,000 tons Newcastle coal. I'rom this it will bo gathered that the iimount of hard coal available receded" by 330,000 tons, which is equivalent to a bhortage of 23 per cent, for 1917, aa against 1910'.

As regards stocks held, the' figures collected by tho government Statistician imiioate tho following position, which spuaks for ilself, and should reveal to iboso interested the necessity which exists for everyone concerned exercising the strictest economy w the use of hard coal as a fuel:— ■ .luly 31, 1917 210,987 tons October 31, 1917 ... 191,249 tons January 31, MS' 178,192 tons April DO, 1918 151,886 tons Although the Department has natnrhlly many difficulties to overcome in carrying out directions concerning the distribution of coal supplies, it is, satisfactory to state that practically no complaints have been made which have not been adjusted, thus indicating that those who are affected are accepting the situation in a patriotic spirit. Priority Permits. As regards priority permits, (he Department has to date dealt with 6366 applications involving orders to tho value of .£'2,971,150. At tho present time there are 26 orders ready for certification, and 80 orders under consideration. ■ I

The prolonging of the war naturally creates conditions under which it is difficult for the Department tomake successful representations in regard to-all matters which havo been brought heforo the Minister; but having regard to extraordinary conditions he was pleased to state •that on the whole very satisfactory reBults liavß so far been achieved. At the moment, important communications are freing exchanged between the Imperial authorities and the New Zealand Government in regard to the trade between, the United States of America and the DoIriinion. The negotiations aro not yet complete, Imt flit Minister liopcd to be able at an early date to make some anpouncemenr in regard tb the matter.