NO SHORTAGE FEARED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19987, 12 July 1939, Page 11

NO SHORTAGE FEARED

SUPPLIES OF COAL MINISTER’S CONFERENCE OWNERS AND MINERS (Per Truss Association.') WELLINGTON', this clay. "Wo clo not anticipate any serious shortage of household coal, and with reasonably good weather on the West Coast, to enable the shipment of gasproJucin.fi coal, we should soon make up any leeway in that respect,” said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. O. Webb, in an interview yesterday, following a conference with representatives, of the Coal Owners' Federation and the United Mine Workers, The Minister said the whole question of coal supplies, both from the points of view of household and gas requirements, had been discussed. "The situation nationally with regard to household coal has improved," Mr. Webb said, "and we do not anticipate a shortage that would cause any real inconvenience to the public; The Wellington market should improve with better weather on the coast. Much cf the delay in sendsw forward supplies has been caused through the influenza epidemic involving greatly-reduced production, and also by bad shipping facilities at Greymouth and Westport, where the weather has affected the working capacity of the ports. Com par. ics Confident "The coal companies feel confident that they will be able to supply enough coal to meet all requirements.” Speaking of the position of the gas industry, the Minister said that practically the whole of the gas-producing coal came from the West Coast, and the toad bar conditions experienced lately had seriously affected the output from those mines. Given reasonably good weather, however, it should not be long before the leeway was made up.

The necessity for maintaining the maximum supply of bituminous coal to' gasworks became more important when it was realised that every ton of overseas coal imported ate into the external credit of the Dominion. "The question of housing accommodation for miners was also discussed. Mr. Webb said. "That will be looked into bv the companies affected.”