COAL SUPPLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 189, 11 August 1919, Page 11

COAL SUPPLIES.

CARGOES AKRI-TTNG SOON. OVER 07.000 TONS. MOSTLY FOR RAILWAY. . (By Telegraph.--l're.s Association.) WELLINGTON. Sunday. Details of the coal shipments now in sight were given by the Minister ot Sujii'ii.-s. the Hon. A. .M. Myers, yesterday. Three week? a_o the Minister stated that ships had been arranged to bring 40.1X>0 tuns of Australian and _U.OOO tons of American coal. Some of these have arrived and been discharged. Unfortunately there were several carets in -vvhii-ii labour difficulties hampered the carrying out of proposed shipments. One of the vessels affected was the Waitonm, which it was arranged was to bring from Newcastle 6-00 tons of coal, 4500 tons being lor the Railway Department. The steamer was laid up in Dttnedin owing to the owners' inability to _et a crew to take her to Australia. This represents a large loss of coal, as subsequent trips of the vessel would have meant the addition of cargoes ot equal quantity. The coal-carrier Nga kuta vould have been steadily engaged in the Newcastle trade if it had been possible to get her crew to take her to Australia. Another ease in point is that of the Inga, which ha.s been lying at Wangauui for some time with a quantity of i-oal still on board. The waterside workers have taken off 200 tons of this cargo to enable the Wanganai Gas Company to keep going, but they have so far refused to handle the remaining 000 tons. The Waipori is also held up in Newcastle owing to crew difficulties. Tlie YYaihora lias been laid tip two months at Newcastle fully loaded with coal —5000 tons —owing to inability to get a crew. The Rakanoa is another vessel that would be employed on the Newcastle run were it possible to obtain a crew. The Imperial Shipping Controller was approached, with a view to endeavour to arrange for all tonnage to bring supplies of coal, both from America and Australia en route to New Zealand, but he could not assist, *'as no tonnage remaining under requisition is available to bring coal from America and Australia to New Zealand, and in the pre.ent circumstances it is not possible to requisition tonnage specially for this purpose." ••Notwithstanding these difficulties," said Mr. Myers, "every effort is being made to secure all the available space for the carriage of coal to New Zealand." Shipments at present actually in sight are as follow: — FROM NEWCASTLE. Due. CarsUnion Co.'s Vessel?. Approx. Tons. Wa____ In pori _._0Kftituna Aug. 14 _._"- Wanaka Au_. 27 .'i.iio Kauri Aug. 24 4.4i*i Waipori Aug 10 ::.._. Oversea Vessels. -tira Aug. .2 7.2.10 E. 11. Steriinj .. 12 4. l " Y-aiweni Aug. 2u -»«l __--X Aug. -.i ".<»•!> |i-:rha:n Aug. 17 _.<»«> I'ort Victor Aug. -jo ::.o.«i "Zealand!- Aug. IS-20 2,i«n. Total ai',2_o FROM AMERICA. Mamarl A-i_.. is ...<>_ Tropic Aug. __ -.m-l Kuaiara Sent, s D.iHUI I'ity Win.-hesit-r Se;.t. !i 3,0n0 Westmeath Aug. -4 4.-J>u Masula Aug. JO 4.0H6 Total _",*.S7 Urand Total tiT.IST In addition to the above fixtures the following steamers, which are at present engaged on the New Zealand coast, will be dispatched to Newcastle when the maritime strike is concluded:—Katoa, Koromiko. Kaitangata, K.aiapoi, Waitomo. and Rakanoa. Of the quantity at present in sight from overseas allocations to the railways