THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1919, Page 5

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

STATE COAL MINE IN WAIKATO.

THE BOARD OF TRADE'S REPORT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

The Government has decided to purchase a State mine in the Waikato coalfield. The Minister of Mi,nes states that lie is having a report made by an engineer. Before operations could vommence a railway would be necessary and it would be impossible to take coal from the pit for 18 months or two years. The Board of Trade's report on the coal question has not been released for publication, as a reply has not been received from Mr. Massey as to whether it ought to be published or not. It is understood that the report suggests the policy to be followed by the Government, and this fact makes the publication important

POSITION CONSIDERED BY CABINET.

Wellington, Last Night.

Cabinet considered the present coal situation, but came to no decision regarding the reduction of railway running, municipal transport, or lighting services. The Hon. A. Myers, Minister in charge of coal distribution, can give no undertaking that there will be sufficient coal for everybody, and if supplies fail public services will have to be reduced.

NATIONALISATION OF COAL MINES.

Christchurch, Last Night.

The Canterbury Trades Labor Council passed a resolution calling upon the Government to nationalise the coal mines of the Dominion and that miners: be given-an equitable proportion of representation in the control of the mines. U was also unanimously decided to endorse the intention of the national executive not to take any part in peace celebrations.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF SUPPLIES.

In connection with the present coal shortage, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. for Taranaki, telegraphed the Hon. A. Myers, Minister for Munitions and Supplies, and askeil whether it were not possible to arrange to increase the supply of household coal for this district, where the position was serious, and suggested thatfactories should be supplied with coal from the West Coast and that the Waikato coal should be diverted for household purposes. Yesterday he received a telegram from the Hon. Mr. Myers as follows: "Regret unable to arrange increased supplies of household coal for your district at the present moment, as owing to the strike of Pukemiro miners the position of many industries is in grave peril. You will, I am sure, recognise that in the present position any increase in supplies for household purposes can only be done at the expense of essential industries, and if any stoppage should take place in these industries it would mean seriously disorganising the industrial life of the community and consequential loss to wage earners. With a quarter of a million tons and a partial stoppage of shipments from Newcastle the present position is one of grave anxiety and the collieries now working are fully extended to keep railways, gasworks, freezing works, and other industries going. In addition, there is a greatly increased demand for West Coast coal for bunkering overseas steamers. Therefore, your suggestion that Waikato coal should be diverted from dairy factories and the latter be supplied with West Coast coal is not possible."