COAL RATIONING IN DUNEDIN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 4

COAL RATIONING IN DUNEDIN

MEASURE TO CONSERVE SUPPLIES MERCHANTS DISCUSS DIFFICULTIES , (P.S.S.) DUNEDIN. May 7. The acute position that will face the trade regarding coal supplies during the coming winter, coupled with the determination of the Mining Controller to see that the railways are fully supplied irrespective of mine stoppages and the needs of the public, was fully discussed at the annual meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Coal Merchants’ Industrial Union of Employers, when it was unanimously resolved to introduce rationing to consumers on Monday. Distributors have advised that available supplies will be distributed in proportion to previous purchases. , ~ , . . The meeting also decided to request coal merchants to impress upon customers that only orders received up to 5 pm on Monday will be delivered that week and that, although particular brands of coal may not be available, the purpose of rationing is to ensure as far as possible that some coal at least be available to each cusThe meeting recalled that for the last two or three years the coalmining industry had been subsidised by the Government so that wages ot _ coalminers might be maintained and that a 40-hour week be continued. The amount of subsidy paid in 1941-42 was £192,092, and the amount voted for the payment of the subsidy in 1942-43 was £200,000. Retailers’ prices had remained unchanged since December, 1938, notwithstanding the heavy increased costs which this section of the industry has had to meet.