THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 234, 27 June 1919, Page 7

THE COAL CRISIS

GAS SUPPLY STILL SHORT

POSITION A LITTLE EASIER A

TRAMWAY POWER FAILS

The threatened interruption of the gas supply in Wellington, < wing to the shortage of coul, has not occurred, ar.d ■the position was stated last i.ight to be a little easier.' The Gas Company has no coal in hand, 'and no reserve of gas, but it managed to ifaiiUa-iu the supply.lust night at a reduced pressure, 'using coal lent by the liaihvay Departmene, and there is a good probability of the unloading of a collier from the West Coast commencing to-day. The municipal authorities are appealing still for tho strictest economy in tho use of electricity. The citizens nearly brought the gasworks to a standstill on Wednesday night by greatly increasing their consumption. The company's record was broken by about 200,000 cubic feet and the total amount of gas drawn from tho containers for tho day wns roughly 2,000,000 cubic feet. Apparently .the warnings. that had been issued to the people regarding the coal shortage led them to economise by using gas, although as a matter of fact the position of the Gas Company was particularly acute. The company was able to maintain the service, however, and yesterday motorlorries were employed taking coal to tn= gas works at Mirainar from the Railway Department's stocks at Tho'rndon Station. ' The.manager of the Gns Company (Mr. Dougall) stated last night that the outlook had improved. ..The-consumption during the evening had been, less than on Wednesday evening. He 'did not know iif the reduction had been due to the'cooperation of citizens or to the fact thatthe company had reduced the pressure, in order to secure lesseped'consumption all round. The company thought it-bet-ter to give everybody a little gas all the. evening than to supply a lot of. gas early in the evening and then be forced to cut off the supply altogether. He had been informed during the evening tuat one collier was " coming through the strait.and if. this,was so he anticipated that tho other delayed colliers, would also make their' appearance. It should be understood that the. company had no reserves,' and was dependent at present on a daily supply of coal for the daily output of gas. ... The: Gas Company, according, 'to tho managing director,. Dr. C Prendergast Knight, is unable to exercise any control .over the consumption of gas by-restrict-ing the supply to or cut-, ting out "superfluous" service. There is, in fact, very little used. that can be so . classified. About 100 gas engines are in use in the city, and, to stop them would mean closing down the industries to'which they are attached. J Tory-little-gas is used for lighting' in, Wellington, but an enormous quantity is heeded _for cooking and heating in large ■ establishments and in private houses.. An unusually, large number'of people, in Wellington, too, have no";'"stand-by" in the •shape of coal-burning .stoves, so that for them gas is practically a necessary of life. ... Tram Service Interrupted, ■ The, tramway- services were .'partially dislocated during the rush . hours last evening owing to failure of the current from the power house." .'The first stoppage, a brief one, came'soon after. 5 p.m.- Cars were r.unning slow afterwards, owing to shortage of 1 current, and at 5.50 p.m. there was another stoppage. Most' of the cars were held .up until tklO'p.m., and during ft this period o/ twenty' minutes thoi cars-.Were without, lights., Many people went home on, foot. ' 'The stoppages were due'to poor coal at the'.power house. "The':.engineers could, not get the pressure required, and when the five'o'clock rush'set in the demand for current quite outran the supply. . CUT ,IN JHE RAILWAY SERVICES. DRASTIC 'CURTAILMENT.^''''' " The Railway Department has at length had to'announce that it is about; to make its long-threatened cut in-services as a measure for the saving of.coal.- The Department has been for a long time living trom' hand to mouth in the matter, ot ■ coal supplies. It has even.been necessary to run trains on Sundays to take coal to distant depots -to enable tlie Monday trains to vim. Now the position is too desperate to permit of more risks being taken, and a drastic cut in services is to be made early next week. - The following; official statement is issued bv the Deoartment:— In view of tho extreme shortage ot coal on the railways the Department will bo forced to bring a restricted time-tab.e into operation early next week. Tlie cur. tnilment will of necessity be very drastic in order to enable coal supplies to bs eked out as long as possible. It will affect all services, suburban and main "lines,'and will include the cancellation of express services between all the centres. The conveyance of-goods will have to bi> limited to foodstuffs and a few essentials. The Department has postponed action in this direction as long as possible, an<> the curtailed time-table is being brought into operation with very great reluctance. Details of the restricted service will be notified to-day. , .•■•■■', Tho Minister of Railways, referryig to the matter, said that the reduction ;" services would be very heavy. Ho coul't give nu indication as to where the curtailment would bo made most, heavy, .but he said, that there would be no more through trains to Auckland to make thejourney in one day. The journey would perhaps occupy three days. In tlie South Island' he thought it might still be possible to' xun trains from Christchurch to Dunedin in a day, this being noneday journey, although the service would be much slower. Ho could give no information as to the extent to which the suburban services would bo reduced. The last cut in services made', was chieflv in suburban services, but the object of this cut was not to save l coal but to release men for military service, and it was by reducing the suburban services and' evening running that the largest number of men could be released.

ELECTRIC POWER. MAYOR SAYS ECONOMY IS ESSENTIAL. Tho Mayor, sneaking to ii Dominion reporter last night, said that ho wished the citizens to realise that tho notice issued bv the Town Clerk, asking for economy in tho use of electricity, was based upon absolute necessity. The position was serious, and he volied upon the loyal co-operation of the citizens m order that the services might be maintained. "We have- not waited for the actual crisis before warning the citizens to exercise economy," said Mr. Luke. ' lho position is tlint the council could carry on, with increasing difficulty, for about n week without reduction of consumption.! but-at tho end of the week wo would be faced with a very serious position indeed. Obviously the right thing to do in these circumstances is to cconomiso now, and this is what I am asking the people of tho city to do. We hope to pet supplies of coal within the next few, davs. But we cannot count upon them wi'tli certainty, aad until the stocks _of coal are increased we must economise. Mr. Luke ndded that the citizens generally had "played the game" by reducing their consumption in response to Ino council's renuest. This applied particularly (o people who i-sed current tor commercial; purposes and for ja'l'ators. Ho thanked the citizens who had complied with his rcnuests and urged all others to realise that they also should make n special effort to assist, tho council, i" its.ta.sk of eking out the available supplies of coal. THE COAL COMMITTEE. SOME I'dINTS EXPLAINED. The Wellington Coal Trade Committee vesterdav issued a statement covering certain points that have been raised in connection with. the coul shortage. Ihe committee stated that the citizens of Wellington could vest assured that, subject to weather conditions and strikes, the Coal Committee would keep the oleclnc light station and the tramway powerhouse, fully supplied. At the present tune tho'Komatn had coal aboard for ho City Council, and the Kamona and the Kokiri were both expected to load coal 'or tho council.

"The Coal Trade Committee," continued (he statement, "recognises that it is ncessnry to keep these important works going, nnd.it is anticipated that they will be kept going in future, us well as they have been in tho past. • "With regard to 1000 tons of American coal referred to by His 'Worship the Mayor, this coal wns specially imported from the United States by tho Minister-in-Clmrge of coal control (the Hon. Arthur M/ Myers) for industrial purposes, and the coal was offered to the City Council officials in common with other industries so that. Ihey could have coal in _ reserve, in case of any mishap to local shipment. Tlic committee understands that tho City Council had) in hand yesterday sufficient coal to Inst tlie electric light for H days, and the tramways for seven days. "With regard to the Wellington Gas Company, the Wellington Coal Trade Committee has so far been able to keep these works going, through the courtesy of the Railway Department in meeting the exigencies of the position by allowing the committee to draw on tho Department's limited slocks, which it is anticipated will keen them goii'? until the arrival of the-Kakapo and Karamu, now en route from Westport and Greymouth respectively.*' MINISTER URGES ECONOMY.. BT PRIVATE CONSUMERS. The Hon. .Arthur Myers made a few remarks yesterday in connection with the advertisement appearing in this issue under the nuthorilv of the Wellington Coal Trade Committee, notifying that Mil" strictest economy should be observed in the consumption of coal. , Tho Minister staged that he had directed that this notification be inserted in the Press, as undoubtedly there was a very acute shortage of household supplies in Wellington at the present time. This was mainly due to the very rough weather that has been experienced on the, West Coast during the last week. Two steamers have now left the Coast,''how: .ever, with nearly 1000 tons of coal for domestic requirements, which, if tho weather moderates, should bo available today or.' to-morrow. These steamers also have supplies for- the Wellington Gas Comoany. whinh will relieve the position in that direction for some little time. "J.would like to take tho opportunity, however," said Mr. Myers, "of pointing out that if information is received giving instances where householders are using coal in onen fireplaces instead of wood and coke, I will direct the various coal trade committees to curtail supplies for such persons." . DISCUSSION AT THE COUNCIL, PROPOSAL TO CHARTER A SHIP. The coal shortage was discussed at' considerable, length by the City Council last night; following upon a resolution moved by Councillor L. M'Kenzie that the council set up a committer to make arrangements. for the chartering of a boat to get coal for .the city- The committee ho proposed should be set up was the Mayor, Councillors J. Glover, J. O. Shprland, C. B. Norwood, and himself.

Councillor M'Kenzie said there was every reason to believe that if a ship could be procured coal could be obtained for the city. At.the present time, when the city's sorvioes and the householders were in extreme need of supplies, the council should make every, endeavour to try to alleviate the situation. Councillor J. Hutchison seconded the motion. He believed that the committee ■would effect good results. It was stated that the coal-shortage was due to the miners.not working .hard enough, but that''was not so. .The Government had failed miserably in meeting the situation, and it was tho duty of the City Council to try *o obtain coal and thus relieve the distress in the city. • ■ ■ Councillor T. Forsyth thought that ■the ■committee would not be able to do more "than was being done at the present time. ' . , , •, 1 Councillor J. Os Shorland considered that the- Government had .done all it could to gut more coal. He was sure .that if ships were available more coai could be- .obtained for the city. The Mayor was entitled to the thanks of the city .'for having made a recent, purchase of MCO.tons of coal. There was a.sufficient supply of coal on hand to. run the trams, for, another, fortnight,, and K firiore- cou!d''bo,obtained ..the position, Would be 'greatly-■improved. ...The u>ai. Trade' Committee, had done, to keep -tho "wheels of commerce going, and credit was due to the committee for the efforts it had made. Councillor J. Glover said the coal shortage was due to the fault of the Government. A new mine could be opened up at llunanga, aud the Government Bhould have .token steps years ago to see that the seam was worked. Ll.id i more progressive, policy been exhibited by the Government plenty of miners would havo been available to. work the coal at the. various mines. Iransport tacilities at some of the mines were ujui', and many miners letf various mines because tlioy had to tramp too far to their work. „■.,'• Councillor P. leaser was of the opiuiun that the committee could bring down some good distribution . proposal. However, the geueral coal problem could not be settled until better housing accommodation was provided for the miners. He had seen .many slums, but had never come across a more detestable place than Burnett's. Face. v ■? Councillor R. A. Wright agreed that the Coal Trade Committee was doing very line work under difficult circumstances. If it were true that because 101)0 tons of coal had been imported there was a diminution of 101)0 tons in the output, then the "coal ring" was responsible, or else the millers' were to blame. Should that statement he incorrect the.il a contradiction was due from the person who made it. Tho present situation was dangerous, because, it might result in a loss.of life. Councillor i\i.' V l'Y ■ lAickie said there was an undoubted shortage of labour in tho mines, and .that was a matterof the utmost importance, which should be dealt with before all others. The Mayor remarked that lie had i..ot attacked the Coal Trader, Committee, which had to consider notj'only Wellington, but the whole 'of the Dominion.- No hardship had yet been imposed on the citizens, as only superfluous lighting had been prohibited. He had been told that becauso 1000 tons of coal had been imported into the Dominion the output had been diminished by 1000 ■ tons. That statement was a libel on. the miners of the Dominion, "I believo the niners would not be guilty of holding up the coal supply simply becalise some coal has como into the country," said Mr. Luke. There was a shortage of miners in the Dominion, and if the Government could get coal from Newport News, or any other j;ort, then it should make every effort to get ships to call there, even if it meant additional expense. Tho motion was carried. WORK RESUMED AT GEEYMOUTH. By Xiilecranh—Press. Association. Groymouth, Juno 20. 'i'lio port is again in full swing,, after :■. neck's hold-up by bad weather. Tho railway sidings were congested -with full conl wagons, but shipping is now available to remove the coal above ground.