GAS PRESSURES REDUCED

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 3

GAS PRESSURES REDUCED

SHORTAGE OF WEST COAST COAL From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, July 22. During the five weeks of the strike in the Liverpool and Strongman State coal mines on the West Coast the coal stocks of the Timaru Gas, Coal, and Coke Company became so low that they were within a week of being exhausted, said the general manager and engineer of the company (Mr A. Morrie Taylor) to-day. Fortunately other bituminous mines on the Coast had remained at. work enabling gas undertakings to carry on, though some, including Timaru, had been forced by dwindling stocks to reduce district, pressures. While the strike was settled only at the beginning of this week it was pleasing to note that five trucks of coal had arrived in Timaru to-day, said Mr Taylor. “I have only praise for the staff of the Mines Department at Wellington and on the West Coast for doing everything possible during this trying period and sending coal, although in small quantities,'from the Dobson Mine.”

As it would probably take some time to build up coal stocks again, Mr Taylor said it was likely that reduced pressures would have to be maintained for some time. Although the reductions were regrettable, Mr Taylor said that in these days when shortages were relatively common consumers adopted a most reasonable attitude—one which was appreciated by executives. -