COAL POSITION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 208, 28 May 1919, Page 8

COAL POSITION

v A REAL SHORTAGE. RAILWAY SUPPLIES ARE LOW -sTHOSE ALLEGATIONS OF IjOARDING The Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister in Charge of Coal Distribution, inado a statement yesterday with reference to a recently-published article in which the statement was made that people ivera short of coal not so much because them is less hewed coal in the country, but because huge quantities are being taken for the railways.

Mr. Myers stated that this was not the position, and expressed surprise m view of '-the recent publication of the figures showing the combined outputs and importations for the period 1914 to l!)lb inclusive, and the evidence given last week before the Indup'ries Commission ill respect to the shortage of miners and decreased output of New Zealand mines— particularly from West Coast mines—that such a statemont should have been made. In order .to remove any misapprehension on the point, he desired to restart thb figures, which are as follow: Combined Outwits and Importations. Tons. 1914 2.793.G63 1915 2,562,095 1916 2,551,091 1917 • ,2,360,016 1918 2,078,620 Compared with 1914 the figures for 1918 disclose iv shortage of 715,037 tons, of which 529,138 .tons lis a shortage in the hard coals 'produced in New Zealand. It will thus be seen liow the present shortage of coal for industrial and domestic use has taken place, as the total coal available for 1914 represented about the normal requirements for maintenance the Dominion's industries, public services, and trade requirements. In order that the public may have some idea of the coal required to maintain the public ser. vices nud primary industries of the Dominion, the figures are stated nereurider:

Tons. Railways 300,000 Bunkering requirements 140,003 Freezing works 130,000 Gas'works 210,000 Electric light and power 70,000 - The industries and services enumerated aboye require almost exclusively hard ooal to carry on their activities; therefore it will be readily understood the difficulty there is in making full provision for tho domestic and other requirements of the Dominion on the balance available—B9B,626 tons, approximately. In regard to tho statement that the. railways have been building up stock"; of coal to the •detriment'of householders, the Minister • stated that the present position with regard to railway stocks was causing the gravest anxiety, and if the position did not improve a furthei curtailment of the train r services at prosent provided might be looked for.

Referring to the statement that inferior coal has lately been landed by steamer? engaged in the Newcastle-New Zealand trade, the Minister pointed out that since the Commonwealth authorities had taken over the control of the Newcastle mines all coal for export is provided by them, and steamers have to take whatever coal is available, quite irrespective of orders placed with the respective collieries by importers. Ho was not aware of any in fenor coal having been landed ex Wa.ihora, as stated, although possibly coal had been loaded at Newcastle from certain mines that have not usually been in the habit of supplying New Zealan-1 requirements, ■ but this is a matter, ovet which the Government have 110 control under .the' conditions now obtaining at Newcastle. '

In respect to the American coal recently landed ex s:s. Raranp, Mr. Myers stated that the bulk of tiiis coal was absorbed by freezing works, public institutions, and railways, and only a limited quantity-was taken into stock for retailing to householders. Reports as to its quality as a domestic fuel wero generally of. a satisfactory nature, and the public should realise that the Department, in arranging,ior these shipments of oversea 1 coal/had done so in order to augment supplies available, and to assist in relieving tho present acute shortage within the Dominion.