FIREWOOD SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 6

FIREWOOD SUPPLIES

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME. An advertisement appears in this issue intimating that the firewood depot established by the Government on the Thorndon Reclamation, Davis Street Extension, will be open for the sale of firewood oh Monday next'. When seen by a representative of The Dominion in connection with the undertaking, the Hon. Arthur Myers,. Minister in charge of coal distribution, stated that the working of the depot was to be administered by his Department. The depot is connected by a railwaysiding, consequently firewood arriving can be unloaded direct into the yard, thereby minimising cost of handling. In the case of customers requiring four-, foot lengths, facilities have been provided -to enable such deliveries,to be made direct from trucks into cans at the 6idmg. Large quantities of first-grade wood, comprising rata, matai, rimu, etc., have been purchased by the Government's representative in the country districts, in addition to which cutting rights have' been secured over a suitable area of forest reserve, and providing adequate transport can l)e provided by the Railway Department, regular supplies will be coming in. Meantime, sufficient firewood is on hand to justify operations being commenced. The Minister expressed the hopo that the public would take full advantage of the facilities provided to obtain firewood supplies for domestic use, thus assisting in conserving the supplies of hard coal required for railways and other industries.

The Government is retailing the wood at a rate which will about cover working expenses. "It must bo noted; however," said Mr. Myers, "that the prices quoted in the advertisement are all for delivery ex yard only, and customers must, in every case, provide for their own cartage, and" in the case of bagged wood their own bags; of course, if bags are supplied by the depot they will have to be paid for at current rates" Extensive cutting rights have been secured over a largo area in the Kaitoke district, and the Railway .Department are now engaged in constructing a 6iding which will enable the firewood to be loaded direct on to trucks, thereby obviating haulage to the nearest railway station, which is one of the principal factors in the present high cost of firewood.