COAL SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 274, 15 August 1919, Page 6

COAL SUPPLIES

AND THE AUSTRALIAN STRIKE. In view of the possibility of 'he maritime strike in Australia beiiiK definitely settled at an early date, as disclosed by the latest cabled news, a representative of Tub Dominion interviewed tlicllon. Arthur .Myers, Minister in Charge of the Coal Control Branch, with the object of finding out how tho coal position in New Zealand would be affected by a settlement of the dispute referred to. Mr. Myers said that Ȥ far as tho coal actually in sight was concerned, ho had already given detailed particulars in a statement which was published on August 10, showing that this amount was then 67,187 tons. It was naturally hoped that this quantity would bo further augmented in consequence of the settlement of the strike, and to this end ho had already communicated with the Union Steam Ship' Company asking to bo informed of the number of further ships which would be immediately available for dispatch to Newcastle for tho purpose of loading coal for Now Zealand. Of course it had to be remembered that some of the Federal States are in dire need of coal, as well as New Zealand, and there will consequently bo n big rush for loadings. It was hopeu, however, (hat New Zealand would be able to set a fair sharo of the accumulated stocks at the mines awaiting shipment, and every effort would bo made to lift as much as was available for the Dominion. In this connection Mr. Myers staled that he had' already approached tho Australian authorities with tho object of finding out to what exlent supplies for New Zealand would bo affected when shipping becomes normal on tho "other side"; but so far no reply had yet been received.