HOUSEHOLD COAL SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26394, 12 April 1951, Page 8

HOUSEHOLD COAL SHORTAGE

SUPPLIES NEARLY EXHAUSTED ’

The president of the Canterbury Coal Merchants’ Association (Mr A. O. Hahn) said yesterday that supplies of coal tor householders in Christchurch were now practically exhausted.

“For the past five weeks there has not been any household coal coming across from the West Coast and during this period coal merchants have" been using their winter reserves to supply customers,” he said. "During the summer the merchants stock up with coal to supplement the supplies they receive during the winter. This winter they will start off without any reserves. Even when supplies of coal return to normal there will not be sufficient household coal produced to meet the demand.

“The general public must, therefore, realise that as far as coal is concerned the repercussions from the present hold-up will be felt throughout the winter. The householder must also realise that a much larger quantity of lignite coal will have to be used this winter in place of fast coal. “The Canterbury Coal Merchants' Association, in conjunction with the Christchurch Emergency Coal Committee (under the chairmanship of the Mayor) is doing everything possible to secure supplies of coal for Christchurch,” Mr Hahn continued.

“Every effort is being made to secure sufficient industrial coal to keep industry going so that there will not be any unemployment. "The coal merchants will endeavour to supply suitable slack, firewood, and whatever coal is available to householders this winter. The general public is asked to remember during the winter that there is a definite shortage of fuel, and gladly accept what their coal merchant can supply.”