RAILWAY COAL SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 8

RAILWAY COAL SUPPLIES

STATEMENT BY MB. M'VILLY.

In order to remove any wrong impression that may bo created by statements recently published respecting the railway coal supplies, it is desirable to again give prominence to tho fact that tho quantity of hard coal consumed by the Department under the man-saving timetable which was in operation nn to July 2, the date ou which the curtailed timetable took effect, was about 5000 tons per week, states Mr. It. W. M'Villy, General Manager of Railways.' "Tho stocks of hard coal on hand at all the depots on tho New Zealand railways for the last three weeks were." said Mr. M'Villy:Tons. Week ended July 12 8,350 Week ended July 19 10,290 , Week ended.July 26 8,917 "It will be seen from tho figures quoted that the total quantity of hard coal on hand on the dates stated was at most only equal to about ten days' consumption under the man-savine tiiiielable. Between J'uly 2 and.July 20 the Department's stocks of haid coal were depleted to the extent of about .1000 tons, this notwithstanding that under the reduced time-table the coal consumption had been decreased by approximately 2300 tons per week for the three weeks the reduced time-table had been in operation. It has been asserted that Paekakariki has plenty of coal, that Palmerston North and Cross Creek yards are full up, and that Marton and I'aihape are in the same condition. "On July 20 the hard coal actually on hand at Paekakariki was 50 tons; at Palmerston North, 1100 tons. 'The lattei is.a distributing depot from which supplies are drawn to meet requirements of other depots between Taumarunui, Na-' pier, and New Plymouth as required. Wellington was staled to have 3000 tons in yards and bins. On July 20 the stock at Wellington depot was 560 tons; Saturday, August 2, about 750 tons. Marton, tho most important link in tho North Island railway system, held 75 tons on July 26. On the same bate Cross Creek, a dopotf rom which supplies are drawn to meot requirements .-elsewhere, held -125 tons, and 'I'aihape 850 ton 6, liable to. be drawn on at any time to replenish other depots. "All the Department's coal depots aro inter-dependent on each other, and supplies are placed at the most convenient points for distribution, and under normal conditions, when there are ample supplies of coal to maintain full train services, the requirements of the small depots are supplied from tho distributing depots. It is therefore essential to maintain supplies at the distributing centres whenever practicable, hence larger stocks aro held at tho distributing centres than at sub-depotj. "I have already placed a full and accurate statement of tho bedrock facts in respect of the coal position before the public. It is unnecessary to recapitulate those facts, suffice it to say the curtailment of tho time-table has been brought about solely by the shortage of hard coal and by no other cause. "Apart altogether from its detrimental effect on trade, industries, convenience-, and .employment, the coal shortage luu> already been directly responsible for the loss of many thousands of pounds sterling in the revenue of the Railway Department. Such loss is the direct outcome of the ourtailmeiit of train services which tho Hailway Department has been forced to bring into operation for the solo purpose of saving coal,, and at :■ time when there was evory indication of u considerable increase, in the traffic." "Obviously, no State transport utility representing a capital of over .£36,000,000 and dependent for its revenue on sale and performance of public transport would deliberately disregard its duty and refuse to take hold of revenue that was being freely offered from end to end of its entire system. "The Department is desirous of removing the present restrictions no quickly as possible. To that end it urgently ro(■uircs ample supplies of hard coal. Tlio assistance offered by business men in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, elc. is being gladly availed of, and if those who are now criticising tho Department's method of distributing its very meagro stock of coal, so that it may bo made tho best uso of will come forward with practical assistance, and practical suggestions as to whero a good supply of hard coal can bo immediately obtained, and tho best steps to lake to ensure further regular and ample supplies the Department will be glad to co-nperato with them, and they will unquestionably earn tho thanks and gratitude of every section of the community. "Meantime the Department is doing the utmost with the nvnilablo coal to meet, the crisis that has arisen from causes entirely beyond its control; and I feel it my duty lo warn the public against nllowjng themselves to bo jnislwl by inaccurate and mischievous statements emanating from irresponsible sources."

Tho 15th and 'tvlh prizes in the Trcntham .Dominion art union, each a Singer sowing nmchino valued at £17, liavo been won by two young ladies of this city, and were claimed within a few hours of the result published in The Dominion. Each of tho young ladies in question is shortly to be married.