SHORTAGE OF COAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF COAL

PROSPECT IMPROVING,

POSITION OF SCHOOLS.

"Coal—negative; cold—positive" is the plight of many homes in Wellington today. As the cold increased the supplies of fuel'showed a shortage.' It is stated that hundreds of households lack coal and wood. Though there is not coal in Wellington at present to fill more than a fraction of the orders, it is possible to prevent hardship in the case of a family where there is sickness. The Coal Trade Committee (Union, Chambers) has managed to give comfort in such exceptional

It is unfortunate for Wellington that almost 95 per cent, of the household coal used here is sea-borne. At the very time ■—during wintry ' blasts—when fuel ie most needed, the coal harbours may not be -workable. For example, as far back as 15th July, the Kazno, loaded with State coal, was waiting at Greymouth for a'chance to slip out, but storms kept her bar-bound. It was not till this morning that the vessel was able to make the open sea towards Wellington, where she is expected to arrive to-morrow evening. As the conditions on the West Coast have improved, it is expected that further shipments of coal will be effected shortly. ■ In regard to schools—some of which have been cold places lately—-Mr. Stewart, secretary of the Wellington Education Board, states that, anticipating possible difficulties, he" communicated with the Coal Trade Committee in: the early part of July. The committee wrote to him on 10th July, asking for a, list of schools in need of coal and the names of the dealers from whom they usually obtained supplies. Immediately on receipt of that letter—llth July— Mr. Stewart sent a circular out to school ■committees,. but the complete detailed information desired by the Coal Committee was not ■' available till 23rd July, when it was sent on to that committee. Apparently the school committees had been under an impression that it would not be necessary to take any unusual steps to ensure a continuance of supplies. . ' The list given to th« Coal Committee' showed that the following schools, orddinarily supplied by the State, lacked' coal:—Karori, Newtown, Willis-street, Ghaznee-street, and Mitchelltown. As the State yard was bare, the committee arranged with the Westport Coal Company to supply two tons to the State, but the company's manager, considering that two tons would be hardly enough, generously gave another two tons. Thus the schools mentioned received enough fuo\ fcift lit Knmo's cargo is distributed. The Mount Cook schools (three) were similarly supplied.

As the Normal School was short, the Coal Committee arranged^ with the dealer concerned, to send'"immediately scwt. of screened coal and scwt. of coke.

In the. case of the Eoseneath, Hatai-; tai, Clyde-quay, Kilbirnie, and Lyall Bay Schools, the.' firm which usually supplies them informed the committee that it had taken steps to deliver coal straight away. ' ■ V The Terrace School, the only other one iii Mr. Stewart's list, had half p. ton in stock, with an assurance of more, when necessary, from the supplying company. • Tims the facts show that the Coal Committee acted promptly and satisfac!torily as soon as it had information of the schools' needs. , Frequent statements have been published advising persons or organisations (such as school .committees) faced with shortage of coal, to communicate with the Coal Trade Committee.

All the coal dealers, particularly the larger ones, have had their books full of orders for weeks. As' Orders are filled in rotation, a new applicant cannot expect immediate delivery. One big firm has considerably more than a thousand orders on the waiting list, and the State Depot has orders for about 600 tons for householders.

An additional difficulty is caused by the calls of the Military Service Act, which sadly affects some staffs of privato firms.