COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1930, Page 3

COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

GAS SUPPLY IN DUNEDIN

MAYOR DEFENDS POLICY

cßy Telegraph—Press Association).

DUNEDIN, July 1

"Owing to the fact that supplies of Coal from the 00-oerative (Coal Miners’ Depot arc not coming to hand in .sufficient quantities to meet the Department’s daily need and also to build up reserve stocks, it has been found necessary to order 3000 tons of Newcastle coal from the Bellbird, Pelnmain and Abermain collieries.” This clause of the gas committee’s report caused the Mayor, Mr R. b. Black, to criticise at the City Council meeting the working policy of the New Zealand coal miners who were concerned with the local output. In view of the fact that they had recently held a big local industries week he thought it was only fair to the council that its attitude in the matter should be explained. The gas department of the City Council was the first to use New Zealand coal in its vertical retorts. As things were, however, the looal miners were not delivering goods. If miners would not look to the matter seriously they would only suffer from their own neglect. His Worship added that it might not !be the fault of the men. It might be that the Railway Department- was to blame. That was a question for the miners and the railway authorities to settle. It was stated at the same meeting that the output of gas for the present month .would be the largest in the history of the concern. Uip till Thursday they had sold 2,700,000 more cubic feet of gas than had 'been sold during the corresponding month of last year.