COAL SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24406, 18 September 1940, Page 6

COAL SUPPLIES

AN INCREASED OUTPUT DANGER OF SHORTAGE PAST • Per United Press Association), . NEW PLYMOUTH, "We have got oyer ""the winter" without having to ration coal, without having, to curtail essential services, and, in fact, without serious inconvenience," commented the Minister of Mines, Mr P. C Webb, tonight, referring to the statistics for the first eight months of the year.. Some months ago, the Minister said, the country was faced with the possibility of a serious shortage of coal because.of the increased demand of the rapidly expanding secondary industries, the cutting off of supplies to the gas works from Australia as the result of the strike there, and the increased export of bunkering coal for the navy and transport purposes. So far this year New Zealand had imported 50,000 tons less coal, and had exported 4000 tons more, comoared with the first eight months of last year; Production this, year was already 120,000 tons ahead of production for the same period of last year, Mr Webb said. This meant that the.output had increased by 155,000 tons since March 31, up to which time, because of flood damage and storm delays to. shipping,. Droduction was 350,000 tons below last year. The improvement was largely due to'.-the increased efforts of the companies and of the men, who were working extended hours at ordinary rates of pay. •