COAL SUPPLIES SHORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1808, 2 April 1918, Page 3

COAL SUPPLIES SHORT.

EVERY TON REQUIRED. “We are working on very short supplies of coal,” said the Minister for Munitions and Supplies, the Hon. A. M. Myers, in reply to a question on the subject. The Minister said that, owing to the shipping shortage, it was difficult to import from Newcastle the normal quantities that were received in prewar times. It was-fortunate, however, that the controlling authorities set up by the Government some time ago were in existence. These, authorities and the various local committees had been doing good work in the direction of allocating the available coal, firstly, among the most essential industries, and to provide for the transit of passengers and goods over the railways. “Considering the demands that are being made upon us for the purposes named, arid for the bunkering of supply ships carrying food to the Old Country, and of transports,” said Mr Alyers, “all engaged in the coal-mining industry should consider themselves to be doing work of a . helpful character towards winning the war. It is to be hoped, therefore, that, viewed from this standpoint alone, the questions which formed the subject-mat-ter of a conference held this week between the Prime Minister and the representatives of the coal-miners, will be satisfactorily settled. Ifc ia of vital importance, not only to New Zealand, but to the Empire, that every available ton of coal should be forthcoming from the Dominion mines.” '