COAL PROSPECTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1919, Page 4

COAL PROSPECTS.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

[?BB PBESS ASSOCIATION. —COPTEIOHT.]

WELLINGTON, July 16

Hon. Mr Myers, Minister in charge of coal distribution, issues a • statement regarding the coal shortage. After outlining the activities of the Department under his control in the direction of endeavouring to import as much as possible, and. as to distributing supplies to the best national advantage the Minister says: “During the last six months every possible effort has been made to influence the Shipping Controller in Britain to allow overseas tonnage to lift cargoes of coal at Newport News and Newcastle when en route to Now Zealand. It was gratifying to observe those representations were resulting in some importations, which were being now considerably increased. Three large vessels had brought cargoes of American coal and five more were now en route, making tho total quantity from this source 37,000 tons. Mr Myers said there appeared to be an impression abroad that the whole of tlic output of coal from the West Coast mines could be drawn on for railway ! purposes. This idea was erroneous, j The railways, he says, require screened i coal for their service, which coal repre- ! sents only approximately 40 per cent of j the total output. The balanco was j small coal, and was being utilised for ) gas works, tramways, and freezing j companies and for bunkering steamers. I As far as the railways were concerned, !Mr Myers said his Department had ) given urgent and special attention to tnis branch of the public service, as the following figures disclosed: Coal deliveries to railways during years ended 31st March, 1914, to 191 J. These were: 1913-14, 283,167 tons; 1915-16, 324,343; 1916-17, 330,660; 1917-18, 271,110; 1918-19, 307,369. The coal deliveries to the railways irom January to June, were:— January 10,959 tons; February, 31,105 tons; March 36,762; April, 15,026; May 19,198; June 13,950; Total 127,000; Average per month, 21,166 tons. The exigencies of tho war were such that shipping tonnage on local, inter-colonial, and in-ter-national routes had been reduced to an absolute minimum. As far as fo-reign-going ships were concerned, • he stressed the urgent nature of the services on which they were engaged. They could not possibly bo detained, be said, to pick up supplies of coal for this Dominion’s industries, but they had to draw on our meagre supplies of coal for them so as to carry them back on the routes laid down for them by the Admiralty in Britain. The Government had repeatedly endeavoured to chartei vessels for coal carrying, but on account of the extreme shortage it had not been possible to charter one vessel foi one trip from Australia. The Minister was awaiting a reply to a further cable dispatched to the High Commissioner, asking whether a suitable tramp, collier, or standard steamer could be released in time to charter it to New Zealand Government.

With regard to the present position, and prospects for the next six weeks concluded Mr Myers, a careful review of the shipments from overseas in sight indicates that we may expect to receive over 70,000 tons of coal, if the arrangements already made materialise together with an estimated output from the West Coast miners for July up to 75,000 tons. Of this quantity some 60,000 tons will be available for the railway services. It will thus be seen that should no unforeseen circum_ stances arise to interfere with outputs and importations, the situation will then be easier than it lias been for some months past.