THE COAL SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17689, 29 July 1919, Page 5

THE COAL SHORTAGE

; -©■ »— STATEMENT BY THE HON A. M MYERS. THE QUANTITIES IN SIGHT. (Psr Ukited Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July*2B. In a recent statement the Hon. A. M. Myers mentioned, that tho amount of coal in sight from overseas during the next six weeks was 70,000 tons. The Minister is now able to say that supplies from those sources have been augmented by further shipments from both Newcastle and Newport News (America) to the extent of about 20,0. r X> tons. While this is gratifying, the Minister pointed out that the proposed shipment of 6500 tons :by the Waitomo (of which 4500 tons were for the Railway Department) was included in the 70,000 tons mentioned. Tho Waitomo, however, was unable to bring this, cargo as intended, as the vessel was laid up at Dunedin owing to the crew refusing to go to Australia in her. Advantage is being taken of tho spell to have the vessel surveyed. The coal carrier Ngalcuta is also a vessel which, for a similar reason, is unable to be used between Newcastle and New Zealand, and sho is, therefore, being used on the West Coast rim. Mr Myors further stated that an arrangement had been made with die Commonwealth and Dominion Line to unload 1000 tons from the Port Victor, which that vessel had available, but unfortunately, . owing to the waterside workers not working on Friday last, only a portion of this coal would be taken off. Some 250 tons were unloaded on Sunday, and arrangements were made for the vessel to be worked up to 10 o'clock to-night, but unfortunately the inclemency .of tho weather had prevented this beinir clone. If the Port Victor sails at daylight on Wednesday, which is tho present intention, she will be compelled to tako about 400 tons of coal with her, which in tho circumstances it was impossible to unload. CONDITIONS IN WELLINGTON. COAL-SEEKERS FORM QUEUES. (Ifsou Our Own Correbpokdekt i WELLINGTON, July 28. For a wretched dole of 2cwt of coal householders in Wellington are willing to stand in queues outsido tho State Coal Office on any day that the office is open to receive orders. To-day the sight in front of tho office was a convincing piece of evidence that the contributors to tho present c -aj shortage are bringing the worst hardship on the working people of tho community. There was a blustering cold southern storm, with tho heavy beating rain of Wellington's worst winter day. From early morning until late in the afternoon a queue stood in tho rain outside the office, most of them wet through, waiting to get their orders taken. Many of them had not an ounce of coal in thoir bins at homo, and they waited in the rain with tho knowledge that it might bo weeks before their orders would be fulfilled. So desperate was the plight of these people that tho Mayor, in response to a suggestion on oho subject, arranged to havo tho orders taken in the Town Hall, and so allowed the wet but still anxious coal-seekers to wait for their turn under tho shelter-of a roof. Most of tho sufferers wor working people, probably tho sort of pooplo who havo to live in houses which aro not. fitted with such conveniences as gas stoves for heating or cooking. Peoplr> a little less unfortunate often havo to wait whevn they want coal, but t-hev can afford to wait for belter weather when they want to plaoe orders, and thoy prefer to pay a litfo_ higher price to a dealer in order to avoid tho inconvenience of the queue. Dealers eharsro always moro than tho State depot,"and the State depots aro rubied by the people to whom the difference of a few ponce a hundredweight in prico is a consideration.