WHERE THERE IS NO SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 165, 12 July 1919, Page 6

WHERE THERE IS NO SHORTAGE.

It was announced a couple of days ago that the Pateena, at present undergoing engine repairs, was to be placed in the direct running between Wellington and Onehunga, "in order to relieve the- pressure on the railways. ,, "Curiouser and curiouser," as someone says in " Alice in Wonderland." A stranger to New Zealand, seeing the acute shortage of coal for the railways and the devastation it has caused, and the apparent ease with which the Union Company can place a laid-up ship in running, might conclude that : the Pateena ran on benzine or compressed air or Mr Edison's much-discussed accumulators. How otherwise, he would say, could the thing be done? But, of course, the Pateena burns coal. We eaid two days ago that the shipping companies seemed to get as much, coal as they wanted, and asked whether their interests were being unduly considered. Our readere can place what value they like on the re-commissioning of the Pateena as an answer to our question. The fact is that while the railway services are cut to ribbons, because, so we are told, there is no coal, the Union Company can get coal for a eteamer tc compete against the railways. We dc not know exactly what the Pateena'c daily coal consumption is, but -we should say it represented more than would be required by the heaviest express that has been run between this city and Wellington. Much worried communities will be thankful for the Pateena's running as a supplement to the amputated railway service, but that will not preveni them contrasting the coal starvation oi the railways with what seems to be the very liberal diet given to the Unior Company. _,