COAL SUPPLIES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16215, 18 May 1918, Page 8

COAL SUPPLIES.

THE POSITION IN CHRIST-

CHURCH

FUEL FROM MOUNT TOR LESS E

The position in Christ-church in connexion with the supply of coal has notmaterially altered in the past two or three days. Speaking; to a representative of "The Press'' yesterday, Mr J. A. Redpath, chairman of the Coal Hoard, stated that the Hoard ivas doing its best in the existing circumstance. ithoufc wishing to croato unnecessary alarm, Mr Redoath said that the position was aggravated bv the fact that coal merchants could not get anything like the quantity required to meet the demand. Some coal was still coming to hand, but, with regard to Newcastle coal, the greater portion that was reaching the Dominion was going to koop tin- railways supplied. Regarding tho point raised by a correspondent. "Consumer," in yesterdav's issue, as to tho prices of lignite and bituminous coal, it should be explained that when Mr Redpath spoke of one ton of bituminous coal being equal to one ton and a half of lignite, he was speaking from the point of view of tho allocation of supplies of coal— which is the principal function of tho Coal Hoard. As to the price of coal, that is a matter that is tinder the jurisdiction of the Hoard of Trade.

In connoxion with the areas of household eoal opened uj> near Reefton, tho reporter questioned Mr J. A. FrosfTek, Canterbury Commissioner on tho National Efficiency Hoard, and asked if ho could give any information as to the likelihood of local supplies being augmented from thai source.

Mr Frostick said that the Rcefton Coal Company was working their area, to a limited extent-. The owners of adjoining mines undertook to deliver ]o.noo tons if pertain arrangements could 1>" made to cot tho coal from the mines direct to the Reofton railway station. a distance 0 f a little under fire miles. "The difficulty in t'"'s matter." Mr Frostick continued, "is that whilst the different- mine owners are willing to construct, a proper road for, tho transnort of tho conl. they are unable to make arrangements with the ■Railway Department for the supply of rn"or>d-hnnd rail?, which are reouir*>d for tho T""""ost\ As to the reason for their inab'V<v 'o come to an arrangement with f'e Tlonnrimenfc in this matter. T c l ' l otlv refer yen to the anthorit'xs ■Wellin'Ho'". .A'l T know is that fiio ■n-"' , r>rtme"t, !>•><; refused to meet tV in tho matter. T d««'t th ; -il- +I, c+ there is any necessity to '-riport rails - .'"

Tho reporter mentioned that the nnhlic were anxious to know if tho ETicicncy Hoard had considered the cp'?stion of the shortage 'of coal suppi ios.

Mr Frostick replied that the question of the urgency of regulating sunrlies of coal, and dealing generally with supphos .was taken tin hy tho Hoard as far hack as last November. +ho idea beim: that the matter should ho taken in hand in ample time, so as to provide against any scarcity that mirrht arise.

A measure of relief will Tie afforded bv the fact that the Mount Torlesso Collieries Olroken T?iver) wi'l start nutting out coal almost immediately. The first coal in any quantity from tho mine will he loaded to-day into railway trucks at. the companv's siding at Avoca. The output will he M) tons per day, which will he gradually increased durin,g tho month to 160 tons per day. This increase, liowover, will donond on whether the necessary lal>our can ho obtained. The coal from the Mount Torlosse collieries Trill lie allocated, as all coal is at present, hv the Coal Board", and this will bo done desnite the fact that in some instances the coal was ordered before the Board was established. Tho company started operations in April. 1916. and, owing to war conditions, its tnfk has been a- difficult one. The company's riant is cap n ble of a daily output of nOfl touts. To Mr William "Wood, the chairman of the local board of directors. much of the credit is duo for havincr brought the enterprise to a successful issue.