The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1920. THE COAL PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1920. THE COAL PROBLEM.

| The Prime Minister's recent rej view of the coal situation does not appear as likely to bring much satisfaction to the public. Wc are noiv at a season of the year when coal is particularly needed for domestic use, yet it is a scarce commodity, doled out in small parcels. The figures quoted by Mr. Massey show there has been a decline in the supply of coal from the end of 1914 to the end of 1919 totalling 490,321 tons, though in 1919 the supply showed an increase of 13,760 tons. The net decrease in the Dominion's output of bituminous and semi-bitumin-ous coal, on which the several industries depend, was 533,208 tons of hard coal, while the deficiency in the imports of the same class amounted to 62,576 tons, making a total shortage for the period mentioned of 595,784 tons, more than equal to a moiety of the quantity mined in the Dominion for the year 1919. Naturally this loss of over half a million tons in five years, coupled with the increasing consumption of the railways, shipping and other industries has made the question of the supplies exceptionally difficult, and as the industrial activities have priority in importance, householders have had to put up with a shortage that has caused great inconvenience, and possibly hardship. The approximate annual consumption for industrial purposes is set down by Mr. Massey as 1,280,000 tons, which exceeds the Dominion's output of hard coal for 1919 by 318.893 tons, and but for the special efforts of the Government to increase importations a national crisis would have arisen. Unfortunately the figures for the four months of the current year (as compared w'th the corresponding period in 1919) show a further decrease of 57,000 tons from the principal New Zealand mines, but this was largely counter-balanced by an increase in the imported coal amounting to 48,000, though there was still a deficit of about &00Q tons. .The cause of this de-

fieit was mainly the "go slow" policy at the mines, and it is somewhat humiliating to have to admit there are men in the Dominion who descend to such unjustifiable tactics for selfish purposes, well knowing the dislocation that, must ensue therefrom. No sooner, however, is an improvement of output exhibited than special drains on the coal resources take place—l2,ooo tons a month for transporting wheat purchased outside the Dominion by Ships visually engaged in bringing coal from Newcastle; 5000 tons per month for the Admiralty's requirements, besides bunkering supplies for overseas steamers carrying frozen produce, amounting in June to 12,000 tons. It is not expected that the steamers lifting the wheat will be available for carrying coal cargoes until July at the earliest. Mr. Massey placed much stress on the fact that West Coast coal had to be sea-borne, and was therefore subject to all the delays and uncertainties connected with shipping. Surely this is a potent reason why special efforts should be made to expedite obtaining coal from Mokau and the Olmra by means of the railways, and that the utmost possible use should be made of the Taupiri and other mines in that district. The whole of the coalbearing areas in the Dominion should long since have been located, opened up, and connected with the railways wherever possible, and the public is now suffering from the neglect. Merely watching the position is futile. It is resolute and vigorous action that is essential. A continuation of the present state of affairs will be discreditable to the Dominion. The brunt of the hardship falls upon the public—the householders—and the prospect which the Premier outlined is most disheartening, for Mr. Massey states it is impossible to increase the allocation for household purposes. Mr. Massey is in the position of a com-mander-in-chief who has to admit a severe defeat. Clearly his duty is to at once devise, means to convert that defeat into a victory, considering that the welfare of the people depends on a speedy increase in coal supplies. It should not be beyond his ability to put the New Zealand miners on their metal in the matter of production, and holding out the inducement of special rewards for increased output. It can hardly be expeeted that people who are shivering with cold will cheerfully accept what the Prime Minister describes as "unavoidable restrictions." They naturally question the term '' unavoidable' ? and would farsooner welcome a practical scheme for increasing the'supplies-than be called upon to endure martyrdom as the result of the inactivity of the powers that be. A period of bad winter weather may have a disastrous effect on the people who are deprived of the means of obtaining artificial warmth.