THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3589, 28 September 1920, Page 4

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Palmerston Borough Council has decided to cut off street lighting except in the Square until the coal shortage becomes less acute.

The Government is to be asked by the Napier City Council to place the distribution of coal supplies in the hands of disinterested parties. The Mayor of Feilding stated on Saturday that it might be necessary to curtail the night running of the electric light.

Fortunately, Taihape is not reallydependent, on coal for any of its services, except the railways, and the stock ip the loco, bins i* being rapidlyadded to. The position would have been acute had the advocates of gas had their way some years ago, and had the hydro-electric scheme not been adopted instead. A Wellington shipping manager reports that, , notwithstanding theCommonwealth having arranged to give New Zealand a liberal amount ofi coal per month, it is very difficult at" present for a New Zealand boat' to*get a load. Work has been resumed at the Huntly mines, but the Pukemiro mine ■ as still idle. The employers contend that the engine-drivers were called ’ out with the miners, and that some of the drivers have left the mine; alsothat difficulty will be experienced in - filling their places, as drivers object to having to join the Miners’ Union. . Hamilton electric supply has been temporarily curtailed", on account of' the coal shortage, but as the mines have reopened, ths supply will he renewed in a few days. The Auckland Gas Co. is in a position of being able to carry on for only • a few days. THE NEWCASTLE DEAL. , Received 10-35 a.m. SYDNEY, This day." ; It is now stated that the Commoßr wealth Government sold thirty thousand tons of coal, portion of two hundred thousand tons at Newcastle, to - New Zealand at the present market price, plus freight. The Commonwealth Government purchased this' coal during tlie ion strike at 15/- per * ton.