COAL SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 20

COAL SHORTAGE.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON.

DISQUIETING PROSPECTS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Coal- supplies in Wellington are somewhat shorter than usual this winter,

"There is practically the same state of affairs in Wellington as in Christchurch," said Mr. A. E. Brown, a coal merchant. "The cessation of supplies from Australia and the shortage in tne supply from the West Coast have brought about a shortage here. Never previously have Ave been such a length of time without supplies from Australia. In Christchurch the position is more acute. There is a bigger demand for New Zealand coal there.

"The gas companies and the Railway Department are also drawing on New Zealand coal to a degree above normal, on account of no coal coming from Newcastle. How long the shortage will last Ido not know. It does not look too good for tne winter. We always endeavour to stock up so as to be able to carry on through the winter, but under present conditions we are only carrying on from day to day." The manager of another firm of coal merchants said the question was whether people were prepared to burn slack coals. "Nobody need go short," he said, "if. they are prepared to burn slack mixed with lumps."