THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2022, 30 August 1919, Page 3

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

REFERENCES IN THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. The following reference to the coal supply appeared in the Governor’s Speech at the opening of Parliament “The failure of the supply of coal has caused my Government much anxiety during the recess, and my Ministers trust that you will find time sufficient to enable you to consider fully the position. The .-hurtage has been due to two causes: Firstly, the reduction of the output from New Zealand mines; and, secondly, the difficulty of supplementing that supply by ■ cargoes from Australia, There is now good ground for hope that one of the reasons Which has prevented import from Australia may be shortly removed, but deficiency of shipping exists, and, to a certain extent, must for the present continue. My Ministers view with anxiety the conditions which leave this Dominion dependent upon sources of supply of coal from other countries. At the present moment the freezing-chambers are full of meat, the property of the Imperial Government, on account of which millions of money have been paid by that Government,, and every obligation of honour and duty requires’ that while such meat remains in store coal shall be supplied for the efficient continuous working of the freezing machinery. It has been found absolutely necessary to cut down the railway service to an extent which has caused great inconvenience to the public and loss to the industries of the Dominion. The loss of revenue consequent upon that reduction has been most serious, but that loss constitutes by no means the principal ground of the present anxiety of the Government. The supply for every household has been necessarily curtailed to a limit which has caused general inconvenience and considerable suffering during the winter months. My Ministers hope that some satisfactory basis of arrangement may be arrived at under which, by increasing the production of existing mines and opening new mines, the Dominion may become self-reliant in the provision of coal for its industries and jits homes.”