SERIOUS OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1917, Page 4

SERIOUS OUTLOOK

Shortage of Coal. Napier, March 14 A very serious position has arisen in New Zealand owing to tbe shortage of coal and restrictions are to be enforced on the public as soon as details can be perfected. Last week a deputation representing the coal dealers of the Dominion waited on the Minister for Munitions and pointed ont the serious effect that the coal shortage threatened to have and asked that the Government take steps to import coal and conserve present stooks. It was pointed ont that oertain large users of coal for necessary purposes had less than a three weeks’ supply and there were no prospeots of filling orders. The Railway Department was said to be short, and most of the railway bunkers were quite empty, whilst ib*ie was a superabundance ol coal in Australia, for the

transport of which there were no steamers available.

In hi* reply, the Miniver stated his dt portent would t.»ko drastic steps to conserve the coal now on hand by cutting cut all non essentia! trains (including race and other excursion trams, suburban trains that cue not absolutely necessary) and bv curtail* ing tram and other services which use up eos»!.

THE POSITION IN NAPIER A reporter tbn n-j Mug intc i viewed Mr C. H. Edwards, Manager of the Napier G w Cociol; y, on the coal shortage. Mr Edwards stated that just at present he was recdivlcg a supply of Newcastle coal, but ika outlork was very bad indeed. “A f w days ago,” added MrErtwrrde, “we had leas than a three weeks’ sup; 1;-, and there is very Htlo prorpect of securing any further coal at proseuu” The shortage, said Mr Edwards, was general throughout Now Zetland; and it would be ueceasu/y for lhe Government to take irunjui Ua and tffective steps to check any aimec-'ssaty waste of coal. Speaking at the N Harbour Board rheeting tc-d-.y, Mr J. Vigor Brown M.P. stated that the Government wt»s proposing iu take over all stocks of coal held by private people, He addid that ha ucduotood ihat the dotition was moM tentu and therefore lhe Board should hesitate befoie purchasing another dredge.