Serious Coal Position At Auckland Gasworks

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 60, 14 March 1944, Page 5

Serious Coal Position At Auckland Gasworks

AUCKLAND, March 13. 11 The situation is very serious and we are borrowing coal from whoever we can,” said Mr. R. Worley, manager of the Auckland Gas Company, to-night. The Union Company steamer Karepo which Atr. Worley expected to arrive in Auckland to-morrow with 1300 tons of coal for the company, is still bar bound at Grey-mouth and it is not known when she will sail. Four hun dred tons of coal belonging to the Westport Coal Company were made available to the Gas Company on {Saturday. This is sufficient to maintain continuous pressure until to-morrow. A further 250 tons has been borrowed from the Auckland Harbour Board and with this and the coal borrowed from other sources, Mr. Worley said production could be maintained until Thursday night. The company would confer with the Coal Commissioner (Mr. C. H. Bonney) ; by telephone, said Mr. Worley. He • believed the Controller would bo able ' to keep the company going with coax , from various sources. Other supplies depended on the vagaries of the West Coast bars, said Mr. Worley. “We are entirely in the hands of the Mines Department and wo hope they will be able to produce something from some where. ”