THE COAL SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 53, 26 November 1920, Page 8

THE COAL SHORTAGE

ITS CONNECTION WITH THE .. HOUSING PROBLEM

A REVIEW OF THE POSITION

"That the conference is or opinion that foe present position demands a much larger production of New Zealand coal, and to that end urges the Government fo mn'fe such arrangements as may bo necessary to secure to tho Dominion the number of miners adequate for requirements/' was the text of a Duuedin remit, moved by Mr. J. 13, Waters at the Chamoers of Commerce Conference yesterday.

Throughout the world the' Revolutionary Labour Party had conducted an orfanised attack upon coal supplies, said [r. Waters. New Zealand was no exception to the general rule. There wero fewer than 5000 men in New Zealand engaged in the production of coal, and even if more labour wero provided at the mines, it was a question whether tiie men could at present be housed, on account of the shortage of building materials, inoluding cement. Cement was- on short supply because of the shortage of coal.

Mr. T. Somervillo (Dnnedin) seconded the remit. It would bo interesting, he said, to learn the amount of coal imported into New Zealand to supply requirements that the eountry'6 own coal .mines, if adequately manned, could have supplied.

Mr. A. T. Roberts (Wellington) thought that- the conditions under which the miners lived wore not what they ought to be. Until these conditions were bettered it was useloss to bring in more miners, who would only be discontented. What should first bo arranged for was the importation of sufficient ' coal to Temedy the cement shortage, and enable building to go on. The Coal Trade Committee had done excellent work, and they were deserving of the thanks of the community. Ho moved a- resolution expressing appreciation of tho committeo's labours.

•Disquieting Comparisons. Mr. J. "W. Collins (secretary for Industries and Commorce) was invited to address tho conference on the coal Question. • "There is available in New Zealand, according to- competent authority," said Mr. Collins, "approximately 2,385,000,000 tons of coal, sufficient on present consumption to meet New Zealand's requirements for at least 700 years. The trouble from deep-seated industrial and economic conditions, which have greatly developed and iiu'ensifled during recent years. It is the means of production and not the sourco which have failed. The shortage of coal in New Zealand, as the remit suggests, is largely due to the "lack of miners. In 1914 the number of workers engaged in the industry was 4,731, giving an output of 2,275,593 tens of coal In 1918 the number of workers engaged was 3994, approximately 750 less, and the total production of. coal was 2,034,250, or a loss of approximately one quarter of a million tons. In 1919 there -was a further fall in output, the total falling below two million tons, i.e., 1,847,848 tons, whilst this year, up to the ten months ended October 31, the figures have reached the alarmingly low record of 1,200.000 tons. The position as disclosed should make all thoughtful persons ipause. It shows that our output has-.fallen by 875,000 tbns in 1920 as compared with 1914. Taking importations into tho comparison, it is probable that the total loss of output for 1920 will approximate 300,000 tons. Arrangement With Australia. "The excellent arrangement recently made between tho Australian Government and our own Government by tho Right Hon. the Prime Minister, whereby New Zealand is to get preference of coal supplies afi"6r Australian -home requirements have been met\ has resulted in increased importations being made,, although at the present time there is a large congestion of shipping in Newcastle, and supplies cannot be secured owing to the large number of inior-State vessels awaiting cargoes. The figures for this year of importations show that New Zealand has been getting an average of 40,000 tons .per month, as against 21.000 tons to 25,000 tons in recenil years. "It. will be readily understood, therefore, that the Board of Trade views this problem as one of the greatest importance. Not only have supplies been restrictfed. but the constant increase in price as causing anxiety, for wherever cnal is relatively expensive as a source of power, industry will be severely hampered, nnd post-war reconstruction Tendered a very difficult -undertaking. Industries Hampered. "Our railways are working on 'hand-to-mouth' supplies, and paying up to

Industries Hampered. "Our railways are working on 'hand-•to-month' supplies, and paying up to J2B per ton for these. Tho most essential industries have heen hampered_ in their operations. Tramway services have been suspended for several days, and two industries controlled by the Board of Trado have seriously suffered. 'At this very moment tho sugar refinery at Auoklan'd has closed down through failure to seoure supplies of coal, and the Dominion will lose an output of atl least 1000 tons of refined Bugar. And this, occurs at a time when the demand for sugar is greatest on account of the approaching jam season. The cement industry has had a most checkered career. Tor a full twelve months one of tOio largest works in the Auckland district, with an output of 1000 tons per week, has not heen able to secure a ton of coal, and the other works in Whangarei, one of the most efficient in the Southern .Hemisphere, has had its output reduced from 1600 tons per week to an average of 300 tons since the beginning of August last. Faced with such shortages in the.cement output, Hie board has had to restrict distribution to essontlal works, suoh as housing and sanitation, while .the development of the country's resources and industrial structures is held up.

Proposed Remedy Inadequate. "The board fears that tho proposed remedy of importing more miners _ hardly adequate to the needs of tho situation! The number of miners is undoubtedly decreasing, although miners throughout the world are employed at high wages. Both in Australia and in England the miners appear to receive higher nominal wages than those .in the Dominion; but, admittedly, .illie purchasing power of money is lower in both places than in New Zealand. It is futile to attempt the employment of more miners until the housing facilities are improved. The latest information available to the board shows that no more than about 200 additional miners could be housed. Tho board's report contains come illuminating evidence on this matter. On page 21, for example, it is made clear that uho housing accommodation- urgently demands improvement, and it is added:' This is true not only of the housin" accommodation itsolf, but also of drainage and other sanitary arrangeMr. Waters proposed idle following addition to the remit: "And that in tho meantime the Government be urged to send a deputation to Australia ib ■ arrange for future supplies on the most favourable terms." The remit, with the suggested addition, was adopted; and Mr. Robertas motion expressing gratitude to the Coal Trade Committees was also carried.