GOAL SHORTAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 3

GOAL SHORTAGE

ACUTE AT PETONE.

MANY FAMILIES WITHOUT FIRING. Tlio Primo Alinister, in'reply to a communication from the council relative to the supply of coal for domestio purposes, stated in a intemorawlium that the Coal Control Department had already taken stops to obtain a special shipment of coal from the West Coast tor distribution throughout the Wellington, district, and that the requirements of Petoue would receive every consideration. Mr letter added that Petone was receiving its full share from the Coal Trade Committor*, and tot allow a greater quantity would have the effect of making the industries go short.

Tho Mayor said that evidently the Coal Trade Committee did not under stand tho position as it obtained iu tho borough. Ho had been successful in eeouring 10 tons from the State Department lor use by families where thero was sickness. -Municipal carta ivero bringing tho coal from Wellington, bub it was car-marked and was only for use- in cases of sickness. Taking tho population of Petone, each family received 141 b of coal per week. Tho trouble to his mind was thatl tho council only sold coal in cwt lots, while tho dealers were iierniittcd to eell in 3cwt lots. If the council received 20 tons out of the special shipment, thai way arriving from tho West Coast, the other five dealers would also bo entitled to 20 tons each. The council would distribute the ooaJ, in cwt lots, which meant that 400 families would obtain a share. On tho other hand tho dealers, by supplying in 3cwt lots, would supply loss than 700 families, making approximately 1000 in all. There were 1700 householders in tihe borough, and on tho basis outlined many families would go short of coal. Councillor Anderson said that it would pay tho council to give the dealers Od per cwt royalty on the coal they aro entitled to a-cceivo, and it could then sell to tho residents at Od per cwt less than tho dealers. 1 robably it would be more than (xl Councillor Cox stated that coal could bo secured from Australia provided tht council undertook to take 2000 tons Tho prico asked waa £3 13s per ton, which was high, and it would.pay the council to amalgama/to with other boroughs and charter a vessel to bring On tho motion of Councillor 'Church, ouse ill was decided to ask the 1 rune Minister to make provision for a lurthor supply of coal and to bring in a regulation prohibiting dealers from selling it in quantities above one hundredweight.