COAL SHORTAGE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16962, 11 October 1920, Page 6

COAL SHORTAGE.

BEIGHTEH OUTLOOK IN AUCKLAND.

(raiSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND/October 10. ■ Prospects for the resumption of tho city gas supply are now much brighter than they were towards tho end of last week. The President of the Board of Trade has arranged for as much coal as possible to bo released for the Gas Company from cargoes duo here this week. *A total of oiJoO tons is expected from Newcastle, and tho Westport Company will receive 800 tons. The Newcastle shipment is expected to-mor-row night. The loss of coal to tho community tlirough the Waikato strikes totals 34,000 tons, as follows: Huntly and Rotowaru mines, idio twenty working dnys, 20,000 tons; Pukemiro mine, idle twenty-eight days, 14,000 tons. \ The trams will resume running in the morning, but continuance of the service will be dependent upon regular supplies of coal.

AUSTRALIAN COAL. PURCHASE OF 75,000 TONS. (SFECIMi TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, October 9. The Prime Minister stated to-day that an officer of the Railway Department had completed the purchase of 75,000 tons of Australian coal, to which tko Primes Minister of Australia has assented. "This, , said Mr Massey, "is in addition to the purchase .of a smaller quantity, which was previously made. There seems to havo been some difficulty in getting the deal through on account of interference by interested parties. . It is quite evident the transactions could not have been completed without the influenceof theAustralian Prime Minister." No difficuty is anticipated in bringing the coal over. The Railway Department will have first claim upon the supplies, but it does not follow that all will bo reserved for the Department.