THE COAL SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 192, 9 May 1919, Page 6

THE COAL SHORTAGE

VIEWS OF THE MAYOE

The Mayor yesterday commented upon the coal shortage that Wellington, with tho rest of tho Dominion, appears likely to suffer from during the winter. Mr. Luke expressed a hope that the city would not this year have to face all the difficulties of last winter over again. Last winter quite a number of people hud suffered intensely from the lack of coal. Among those who had been espeoially unfortunate were many recipients of pensions. They had been entirely destitute of fuel; and measures had had to be taken to relieve their misery. The present prospects must be viewed with a. good deal of concern. All parts of tlio Dominion were crying but for j. coal supplies, and it had been impossible for people to lay in stocks against their probable needs for the next few months. The Wellington City Council lad time and again endeavoured to accumulate a reserve, _ but only recently it had been faced with the possibility of all its supplies being exhausted within a few hours. Constant representations to the responsible authorities and the purchase of such job lots of coal as were available had alone saved the eituation. For the moment there was a slight easing of tho position, but how long it' was likely to continue he could not say. , . The Government, Mr. Luke thought, should take the public into its confi. donee and etate just what supplies might be anticipated during the winter. It.was useless applyine to tho coal companies. They were lulflllinsr their orders as far as pos-sible acoording to contracts, but were suffering from tho effects of trouble at the mines. The Government should estimato what amount of coal was likely to come to hand, and should estimate also the probable requirements of the various centres. It could then eee that a proper distribution was made. If tho public knew the worst, it would be in a better' , position to arrange, if necessary, for the burning of wood in place of coal. People were at present hesitating about making contracts for tho supply of wood in the hope that the shortage of coal would soon be less pronounced.