COAL SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 286, 27 August 1920, Page 6

COAL SUPPLIES

DOMINION'S DIFFICULT POSITION A RAILWAY CUT AVERTED The Prime Minister told a Taranaki deputation yesterday than the coal short, ugo was one- of the most serious difficulties that the Government had to handle an present. He did not think that anyone _ outside the official circles could realise just how much effort and anxiety had been involved in the struggle to maintain an adequate supply of coal throughout! the Dominion. The state of altairs was extraordinary. Enough coal was in sight in Now Zealand to supply all the needs of the peoplo for centuries to come, and yet the quan- , thy mined was not sufficient for the f dady domestic and industrial requiro- ] jncnts. The development of a new field in Taranaki obviously was important. Tito Tangarakau field, which had been mentioned by the deputation, probably was connected with the Huntly field tind the quantity of coal availablo must be very large indeed. The members of the deputation would be aware, said Mr. Masscy, that the coal shortage had been accentuated by sumo trouble regarding supplies from Australia. Tho Australian authorities had become anxious about their local supplies owing to the enormous demand far export. Coal was being senti from ft ewcastlo to Sweden and other European countries, and the Australian Government had announced certain restrictions on export 1 . He had got into communication with Mr. Hughes on the subject, and he could say that on the whole the negotations had been fairly satisfactory. He could tell the deputation what he had not made publio. before, thati if the outlook had not improved the Government would have ordered ft cut in the railway services, coininem-.-ing on Monday next. This would not be necessary now. Ho could not guarantee that There would be sufficient coal for any length of time, but the danger was over for the present "Something will havo to bo done in regard to our local coal supplies, in tho direction of increasingi the output from the mines," said Mr. Massey. "Tho crux of the difficulty is the shortage of labour. We are very short of labour in this coumfry. The Government, the local bodies, and the industries are all suffering. We could recoive 25,000 good men in this country and find employment for them without the. slightest* trouble." The shortage of labour was due largely to war conditions, and he feared thai/ it could not bo overcome quickly. Many immigrants were coming to New Zealand from Britain, and come were also coming from Australia, but the full number of men required could not be provided quickly, , COAL froFnewcastle SOME SUPPLIES COMING. , The anxiety of New Zealand regard- [ ing supplies of coal from Australia may b» somewhat allayed by a etiatemenf: made by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday. This country always needs coul from Australia, "and unless there are shipping difficulties tiho supplies are always obtainable. _ But there ore coal troubles in Australia even more serious than in' this country at present, and t!hcre seemed to be a chance that as exiiorts of coal from Australia were being prohibited generally, exports to New Zealand would b» included in the general prohibition. As soon 39 the first cabled announcement of the general prohibition was made. 'Mr. JJuwejr cabled to Mr. Hughes asking thati New Zealand supplies should bo continued. Mr. Massey announced in the nouse that ho had received a cablegram in tuply from Mr. Hughes. He was glad to say that the reply was satisfactory so far as it/ went. It did not guarantee that we should get from Australia all the coal we required, but it showed that considerable quantities of coal were now being loaded for New. Zealand. Sufficient coal was on the water or being shipped to relieve the pressure existing in most of tho larger centres'of the country at the present moment