BRITISH CABINET TO MEET

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14254, 31 December 1946, Page 3

BRITISH CABINET TO MEET

COAL CRISIS IN ENGLAND

Drastic Economy Needed

Problem In Northern Industrial Areas

London, Dec. 30

Mr Attlee has called a cabinet meeting for to-morrow. A correspondent says that the coal situation in Britain is expected to he one of the topics to be discussed. . In one of Britain’s most important industrial areas, north-west England, the coal shortage is so serious that it can only be met by drastic economy. It was 'stated that in this area the authorities felt that the temporary supplies such as had been provided in the past few weeks were insufficient.

One recommendation was that electricity and gas and also street lighting should be cut by half.

Those Lancashire cotton mills which remained closed after Christmas because of lack of coal ha.ve now received supplies and will reopen to-day. For the moment, the immediate urgency is ended, but the resumption will be no more than a precarious return to an existence on stocks which are sufficient for less than a week’s running. In some cases they are sufficient .for only two or three days.