COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 11

COAL FROM AUSTRALIA

NECESSITY FOR IMPORTATION STATEMENT BY AIR VEITCH. WELLINGTON, June 6. /I’he Minister of Railways (Air W. A. Veitch) made a statement to-day in regard to the importation of coal from Australia. In the course of it he said that with a view to building up the stocks of coal the department had increased the orders on the New Zealand mines on Alarch 18 and again on Alarch 30. Nevertheless, by the end of April there was no increase. Even up to May 23 the increase in the stocks amounted to only 4000 tons, which was little more than half a week’s cemsumption. As the prospect of obtaining coal from the New Zealand mines was not satisfactory he had been reluctantly compelled to place an order for 40,000 tons from Australia. Air Veitch gave figures to prove that the previous statement was correct—that the New Zealand mines had not been able to deliver the quantities arranged to overtake the shortage of the reserve supplies. The Dobson order now stood at 1600 tons a week, but the supply averaged only 775. The Brunner order was 1595 tons a week and the average supply only 720 tons; the Liverpool State mine, 500 and 400 respectively;. Grey Point Elizabeth Co-op., 1020 and 370; Briandale, 820, but was unable to guarantee more than 350 at present, though they might be in a position to increase it to 500 in six weeks’ time. The WestportStockton order was 1200 tons screened. Up to Alay 23 this had been delivered, but’ owing to fewer order for slack coal and the dearth of shipping bunkering orders the mine would have difficulty in delivering the-quantity ordered. A quantity of unscreened coal had been taken in order to assist the company in its difficulty. The Cascade mine was still out of action. The order for 1000 tons of coal weekly was to stand, but it was not likely to be delivered at a rate greater than 100 tons a week. ' Air Veitch added: “I wish to repeat that the department will continue to take New Zealand coal, and so long as the mines are able fully to meet our requirements from time to time there will be no necessity to resort to importations in the future.

An exceptionally large wild boar was shot on the Pirongia Mountain by Air K. Prentice (states the Waikato Tinies). The boar measured 6ft GJin long, and its snout was 14in long. Air Prentice was out with a party including Afessrs G. Berryman, C. Wolston, AL Lindsay, and J. Butterworth. They have been going out regularly since Easter, and so far have secured 24 wild A boars. They surprised their big capture in a clearing by a creek. The animal, seeing the hunters had surrounded him. dashed straight at Air Prentice. All the members of the party shot at the .animal, and Mr Prentice checked its rush with a shot between the eyes. Members of the party declared that wild boars are plentiful on Alount Pirongia.