COAL DIVERTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 237, 6 October 1945, Page 7

COAL DIVERTED

HELP FOR RAILWAYS

|\IO DOMESTIC SUPPLIES

Domestic supplies of coal will be almost non-existent in the Auckland district for several months to come as a result of a decision by the Government to take 72 per cent of the total production of this grade of coal to help the Railway Department.

This move was made known to the Waikato colliery owners in Auckland yesterday by the acting Mines Controller, Mr. W. S. Butcher, who stated that exceptional measures must be taken to maintain the railway services, and also to assist the dairying and freezing industries. For these purposes 5000 tons of coal a week, which had been available for domestic use, would be required. The remaining 1900 tons of domestic coal mined each week would be distributed as evenly as possible among hospitals and other essential users, the indications being that shortages in some directions were inevitable. Mr. Butcher pointed out the vital importance of maintaining the railway services, as all other consumers were dependent upon them.

The action taßen is attributed to the stand of the railwaymen in refusing to continue using open-cast coal from the Ohura district, which they have described as undergrade, containing dirt and rock and unsuitable for the fuelling of locomotives.

It is expected, tnat me open-cast mine near Ohura may have to be closed down as the coal may become unmarketable, and heavy continued demands will therefore be thrown on the Waikato mines, to the disadvantage of Auckland housewives. Approaching warmer weather will, of course, considerably reduce the domestic demand, but those with Kitchen ranges are largely dependent on coal for cooking purposes.

Not only is there an urgent immediate demand for the railways, but, no less important, reserves must be built up to operate the railways during the holiday period, now only 11 weeks ahead, when the mines will be at a standstill for probably at least a fortnight. It is estimated that reserves of fully 12,000 tons will be needed. •