Critical Position of Auckland Gas Supply

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 61, 15 March 1944, Page 5

Critical Position of Auckland Gas Supply

Many War Industries Seriously Affected (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 14, Restrictions which will have a serious effect on many industries in Auckland were announced to-night by the manager of the Auckland Gas Company (Mr. Rupert Worley). He stated that no gas would be available for industrial consumers until adequate coal supplies arrived and domestic consumers would receive their supply during restricted hours. “Tho position was very bad to-day, the main trouble being that the borrowed coal they were using was not good gas-producing coal,” said Mr. Worley. “We are reluctantly compelled to require all industries to cease using gas until adequate supplies of coal become available. This restriction does not apply to hospitals, restaurants or hotels. In the meantime gas will be available to the general public during the following hours:—6 a.m. to 8.15 a.m., 11.45 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. “The public are asked to cooperate with the company to the utmost. At times other than those specified gas pressure will be reduced until it will be just sufficient to keep a pilot light going,” said Mr. Worley. “It is hoped by these measures to provide sufficient gas for the public’s cooking requirements through this critical period.” Mr. Worley stated that vessels with coal were still bar-bound on the West Coast and the duration of the restrictions depended entirelv on their arrival. Among the industries which will be affected by the cessation of the industrial supply are many which are engaged on important war work. They include meat and fruit-canning firms, biscuit manufacturers and foundries, throughout to-day difficulties were encountered hy commercial and domestic gas users in Auckland. Restaurants -“'rticuKrly were in an unenviable position and at least one in the citv had to close its doors early in the afternoon owing to the failure of the sunnly the others stn ,rrnr led through as h*»st they could, but the weakening pressure caused uncertainties as each meal period approached. Anxiety was also caused in several hotels in the city. sions. He said one Maori tribe had given parcels of land totalling 100,250 acres to the Government In free status during tho last and present war for the rehabilitating of Maori servicemen. He also dealt with the allegation that Maori farmers had cut down their dairy herds in order to draw family and social security benefits. Information received in response to telegrams sent out last week after the Opposition made this allegation showed that only four or five Maoris had reduced their herds this season and that for reasons of age or other inability to carry Waiting ! M r - Sheat (Patea) said the people of this country had been waiting for the last three weeks to hear the Government’s plans for the serious problems that had to be considered by the House. They had been looking to the Minister of Labour to give a lead regarding industrial problems, particularly that of coal supply, to the Minister of Railways for information regarding the duration of the rail restrictions and to the Minister of Works for information about what was to be done to overcome the serious hydro-electric shortage which was affecting both the industrial and domestic life of the country. They had also expected something about plans to overcome the serious housing shortage. Mr. Sheat said it appeared as if the Go\*ernment considered the people were not fit to be told the truth and the country was getting to a stage where the people would not believe a statement when it was made. Where was the Government heading for, he asked. Was the ultimate goal complete socialism or were they going to rely on private enterprise to deliver the goods? They had gone into power on a plan to socialise production, distribution and exchange, but had not socialised anything. He suggested they should give individuals a greater opportunity and remove some of the restrictions imposed. Fierce Attack on the Press. Mr. Thorn (Thames), replying to protests by Mi*. Oram earlier in the debate about censorship, said it was high time this catchcry about the freedom of the press was debunked. It meant something different from its original significance in English history when governmental powers attempted to prevent the common people owning, buying or reading newspapers. To-day it meant that some squatter’s son, owner of slum property, some magnates in the insurance world, or one or two bankers started a newspaper and then told those employed to write for them to prop up a system giving them power over other men. This meant tho vilification of a Labour Government if it were in office and praise of a Tory Government, its stupidities and cruelties. It meant that if some stupid ass at a farmers’ union meeting alleged that butter had been dumped in Nelson harbour lie should be starred and given the most favourable headlines. It meant that If anybody dared protest against this sort of infamy he should be reviled as a conspirator against the freedom of the press. Such freedom was in fact license to poison and corrupt the people. Censorship which had permitted the papers to carry on a continual campaign against the Government throughout the war was not very exacting and nobody had a right to protest against ils exercise by the Government. Discussing the position of farmers, Mr. Thorn said there had been a great increase in primary production during the war. The document presented to the House by the National Service Department showed a great increase in the production of wool while meat and the acreage in crops had also increased during the war years. As for dairy produce during the years 1939-41 it was maintained at an average of the three previous years except that in the 1940-41 season production was 12,000 tons higher than the previous three years’ average. Production had fallen in the 1942-43 and 1943-44 seasons and last year New Zealand produced 23,000 tons less butter and cheese than in 1941-42, but the reasons for this were well known—changing 'back and forth between butter and cheese, loss of fertilisers, labour shortages and unfavourable weather conditions. Great stress should be laid on this factor for where the weather was favourable it had actually been demonstrated that the farmers would cooperate with the Government to increase their production. Mr. Mackley (Masterton) defended the daily press of New Zealand. He said not only had he a fair knowledge of the fairness of that press, but had also met many overseas visitors who had left New Zealand with the best impression of the New Zealand press. That did not include the official organ of the Labour Party. There was a no more partisan paper or a no more dangerous organ than the Standard. It was full of bias and prejudice and pandered to the tastes of the people. The material in it would not be a credit to the yellow press of America, Commenting on Mr. Thorn’s statement on the dairy Industry Mr. Mackley said no section of the community had been let down by the Government to the same extent as the dairy farmers. The Government had made promises it had not kept and by not keeping them had robbed the dairy' farmers of over £5.000,000. The House adjourned at 10.30.

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