MUNITIONS & SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 258, 19 July 1918, Page 6

MUNITIONS & SUPPLIES

WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT

AN INTERESTING SURVEY

The lion. A. It. Myers stated yesterdny that in addition to handling matters connected with controlling coal distribution, priority permits, and buying of military supplies, his Department is now concerned with tho control and distribution of petrol, in which matter' tho Board of Trade is acting in nn advisory capacity to the Minister. Commenting on the petrol regulations recently published, Mr. Myers stated that they were flexible in their application, and this would enable him to meet varying requhemenU. The position to date in regard to the buying of supplies required for military purposes during the calendar year 1918 is as follows—

Estimate for tho year -21,:>00,000 \ aluo of orders placed to date 780,000 Balance still to bo pur- . chased if required 511,000 The value, of the business placed to date lias been distributed as follows:— Auckland. Wellington. Canterbury. Otago ,£141,820 41303,223 4124,293 .£150,002 Speaking generally, tho conditions still prevail which make it impossible for advantageous purchases to be made, by the tender system in all cases. As a result of this, the Department has compiled a complete register of suppliers of various lines, and of necessity is purchasing direct from primary sourceß of supply whero possible. Priority Permits. As the war is prolonged the bujinrss in respect to priority permits continues to increase in volume and importance. It (is now found necessary for the Minister, on behalf of the New Zealand • Government, to make representations to Canada, United States, India,- and Australia, in the same way as was done last year in respect of New Zealand orders placed in the United Kingdom. The Department has spared no effort to assist Now Zealand importers jn making good _ their shortages in essential lines, but it will be appreciated that its action is frequently taken in the light of confidential information, and which occasionally precludes insistent representations being made. Coal. Supplies, "As regards the distribution of coal," Mr. Myers remarked, "the figures submitted tp me by tho Government Statistician show a steady depletion of stocks throughout the Dominion. 'At this time of tho year, the consumption of coal roaches its highest point. The shortage of- fuel is most felt in hard coal supplies, and this is being met by encouraging a more extensive use of lignito coals. It can bo st-iled, with credit to the country, that up to dato every enterprise concorned has readily lent itself to the directions I have found it necessary to make, and this attitude on the part of coal consumers has largely contributed to the fact that no activity so far has ceased to operate for lack of coal. ."In normal times New Zealand Telies on large puanfcities of imported coal being available to meet its full demands. It will be understood that under war conditions the greatest difficulty is being experienced in securing sufficient tonnage to supplement the full requirements of the New Zealand coal consumers. As a result of this, the concentration of a [substantial proportion of the tonnage available on the carriage of coal from Newcastle is necessary, and this action is correspondingly felt in the inability of shipping companies to give the fullest attention to some other lines, notably hardwood." In this connection, however, the Minister expressed a hope that when the summer months approach, he would be in a better position to more favourably regard tho release of some tonnage from coal carrying as a temporary relief to those interested in other essential lines.