COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1931, Page 8

COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

AUGMENTING STOCKS. IMPORTATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT. (Christchurch “Times.”) Inquiries made in Christchurch on Wednesday morning showed that the general opinion among coal merchants and the large consumers of coal in Christchurch is that in sending three vessels to load Australian coal, the New Zealand Government lias taken a precautionary measure in anticipation of a hold-up of supplies on the West Coast. It- was stated that the vessels would probably make several trips. One man said he knew the Australian order was a substantial one.

“There are signs of labour trouble at the West Coast mines,” said a representaive of a leading firm, “and although nothing definite is known, it seems that the Government has taken an early step to augment its present stocks in the event of a serious crisis. This being so, there is really little to fear, for there is sufficient coal in Canterbury at present to carry on for three month.”

This opinion was endorsed by a Government official. He had not received any communication regarding the reasons for the dispatching of the vessels to Australia, he said but he considered that their departure was a clear indication that the Government had anticipated a crisis. There was no shorts age of coal in New Zealand, and supplies at present were in excess of demand. POSITION OF THE RAILWAYS It was stated that the railway depots carried stocks sufficient to last for a few months. Supplementary supplies Australia would he the means of avoiding any pinch that might he caused through a sudden stoppage in supplies from New Zealand mines. The secretary of the Christchurch Gas Company, one of the largest consumers of coal in Christchurch, said that that company had stocks available for three months.

The manager of a prominent retail firm said that his' firm was in a position to supply subsidiary merchants and maintain it own business at full pressure for a month. In tile event of trouble, a month would give the firm sufficient time to land stocks from Australia. He did not think that diffieuly would arise in the landing of coal at New Zealand ports. Watersiders would be glad of the work, and, in any case with the number of unemployed men available, a call for free labour would probably be effective.