COAL POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1929, Page 3

COAL POSITION

WILL THERE BE A SHORTAGE? N.Z. MINES UNABLE TO MEET DEMAND. CHRISTCHURCH, June 11. The likelihood of a coal shortage in New Zealand consequent on the threatened coal strike throughout New South Wales is not looked forward to with any feelings of satisfaction, and least of all by the coal merchants. Unless the public use some discretion in the matter of their orders considerable trouble is likely to occur. A prominent coal merchant told a representative d f •“ The Press ” that already people who ordinarily order quarter-ton lots are ordering ton lots. If this continues the position locall will be considerably embarrassed. Householders arc urged to order the amounts they order normally and t<> use some wood to help to ease the position. Generally speaking, the cause of the trouble in New South Wales is so far removed from the New Zealand consumer that it is difficult to understand the position fully. What is outstanding is that supplies of coal from Australia ceased in March, and though the New Zealand mines have bene producing at capacity they have been unable to keep pace with the demand. Under normal \ conditions about 5000 tons reach Lyttelton from Australia monthly. The Now Zealand mines have to make up the shortage caused by the cessation of imports from Australia. In addition, the Railway Department, usually imports small cargoes, ami these have to be made good also by the New Zealand mines. The position as far as New Zealand coal supplies is concerned has been improved by the Railway Department having put its best foot forward, and ended the trouble caused by the shortage cl. trucks. Some coal, it is reported, has been shipped from New Zealand to Australia, but this is small coal, which does not affect the Now Zealand position from the householder’s and the Railway Department’s viewpoints. GAS COMPANY’S SUPPLIES. Unla*i the shortage of coal lasts for six momhs or more the Christchurch Gas Company is not likely to be inconvenienced. Mr E. W. Reed, the secretary of the company, says trial trie company has a good quantity ol coal in hand despite the fact that tlm Australian strikes and trouble at the Blackball mine have greatly curtailed supplies. Normally the company used all New Zealand coal, but a certain quantity of Australian coal was held in reserve, as it is a harder coal, and better withstands weather than New Zealand coals. POSITION IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, June 11. Interviewed regarding the reports from Christchurch concerning a shortage off coal, a leading coal merchant in Dunedin stated that arrangements were being made for the importation of coal from England. “ These miners who go out on strike.” he said, “ inconvenicce far too much those who in good faith depend on the continuous working of the mines. If English c >al comes on the New Zealand market, the miners will have only themselves to blame if they find they are working only half-time through there being a surplus of coal. It is ridiculous that because a Union has a domestic dispute a mine should be stopped and innocent people made to suffer.” Questioned regarding the price at which English coal could he landed in New Zealand, the merchant said it was now being landed in Australian ports more cheaply than it could he supplied from Newcastle. Another merchant to whom the. subject was mentioned was emphatic in his statement that a shortage of either Newcastle or "West Coast coal had nothing whatever to do with Dunedin. “ We are in a fortunate position,” he added. “Unless the strike troubles spread to this province we do not n»d to go outside Otago for all the coal we need—not even to Southland. One d two engineering firms which have been used to Newcastle coal may be possible exceptions. It is true that Christchurch is largely dependent on its supply olf Newcastle coal, but manufacturers here have been turning out ranges which are specially suitable for quick heating and for burning the coal that lies at our back door.”

TALK GF SHORTAGE. By telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright CHRISTCHURCH, June 12. A coal dealer here complains of n shortage of supplies, saying it is getting more acute, and that the Blackball mine stoppage has tended to accentuate it. He argues that the public must take what dealers give them, and declares arrangements are being made to import English coal. He says that for this the miners have themselves to blame. The merchant alluded to English coal entering Australia, saying it was cheaper than Australian coal from Newcastle. NOT ENOUGH ORDERS TO FULLY MAN THE MINES. WELLINGTON, Juno 12. Referring to coal supplies. Mr T. O. Bishop, Secretary of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association, stated that the normal condition of the coal trade in New Zealand for several

years past had not been sufficient to keep the mines anything like fully employed. = As far as Christchurch is concerned, said Mr Bishop, the chief source of supply for the domestic trade there, at any rate, is the Otago and Southland mines. He was at a loss to account for the alleged difficulty of obtaining supplies for that city. 'J he position there should liot he affected bv the recent strike of Blackball minors or by the strike in Australia.

RAILWAY SUPPLIES. NONE COMING FROM ENGLAND. WELLINGTON, June 12. In reply to a question to-day as to whether the ..ailway Department is affected as the result of the curtailment of supplies from Newcastle, and as to whether coal was being obtained from England, the Minister of Railways, Hon Mr Taverner, said that the Department has only been affected so far as stocks from Newcastle are concerned It might, he said, lie possible to meet the deficiency by utilising local supplies. The Minister stated that no supplies of coal were on route from England for the Now Zealand railways at present. The Department, however, had been obtaining quotations for coal from the Old Country. WELLINGTON REPORT. WELLINGTON, June 33. A Wellington coal merchant staled to-day that there are now no stocks of Newcastle coal in the city. “In fact.” he said, “any sort of coal is so short here that no merchant has a reserve, but all are working from day to day. and even then are finding it difficult to keep up with the demand. NO AUCKLAND SHORTAGE. AUCKLAND, June 12. There is so far no coal shortage .ere. The Dominion, especially And - land, supplies arc expected to prove adequate for all needs Newcastle coal is not here relied on at any time. There is no expectation that English coal will be imported. It could not compote against the local product, owing to trie freight cnarges. The railways in Auckland , are using New . Zealand coal only at present. The Gas Works are also using New Zealand coal. One difficulty with gas works using perpendicular retorts lias been that New Zealand coal tends to expand, so that its use heretofore lias been confined to horizontal retorts, but there will now be a necessity to make the best of New Zealand coal, which consequently may extend its sales for the future in this direction. Generally speaking, the extra demand, which the New South Wales coal stoppage has created for New Zealand coal has tended to restrict supplies ,in the South Island rather than in the North.