MASTERTON FACED WITH GAS SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 308, 22 September 1920, Page 6

MASTERTON FACED WITH GAS SHORTAGE

SUPPLY ALMOST EXHAUSTED. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Masterton, September 21. Once again Jlasterton is faced with' ft gas shortage. For the past day or two j;a3 for cookers and lighting has 'been stringently rationed in order that the supply might be conserved as dong as possibly. During u previous shortage temporary relief was obtained from the Hallway Department, which lent the gas works a truck of coal, but this avenue of relief lias been closed as the Department has refused to accommodate tlm borough again."There is only about 45,000 feet of gas in the holders," said the gas manager (Mr, J. W. Blackman) at to-night s meeting of the Borough Council. "This is sufiiciVnt only for about 24- hours, and ie will be absolutely necessary to cut ott tha gas from 7 o'clock to-morrow morning till the evening." Mr. Massev had informed him timt. there was ample coal on the Komata,. now at Wellington, hut ow-: inir to the wet weather the wharf labour-; ers refused' to unload'it. The Coal Controller li,';ld out no hope of any coal bein" sent to Masterton before the weather e'l'arcd The responsibility for the shortage'must rest on the authorities, as for, month? past ttay had been repeatedly, warnfid of the seriousness of the situation in Tho S 3tayor (Mr. W. H. Jackson) eaid the position was intolerable. There wai iilenty of coal at the Wellington wharf, but it could not be brought to There was no prospect of relief r time to avert a further cut.