Coal Shortage Blamed On Householders

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 17

Coal Shortage Blamed On Householders

Christchurch’s coal shortage can be blamed on householders and the shortage of railway waggons bringing coal from the mines, according to Mr J. R. Dowdall, president of the Canterbury Coal Merchants’ Association, yesterday Mr Dowdall said there was still coal around, but stocks were running down. “It’s the fault of the householders They wouldn't buy coal when the weather was good.” he said.

Merchants had stocked up coal, but they had not anticipated such a severe winter. They had expected another mild winter like the last two or three. Their reserves had been depleted by the rush of people to buy coal as the weather became colder. Mr Dowdall said the situation would be better if the mines could get enough trucks to carry the coal to the city Railway Department records

show that there were only three days this month when sufficient trucks were noi available.

A spokesman for the State Coal Company said it was not the ordinary coal-burn-ing household that was feeling the shortage. It was those who had “got through" las’ winter with heaters, but who found this time that heaters had to be supplemented by coal.

“They have rushed out to buy coal and bought up most reserves. A few days of warm weather should fix things.” he said. Some householders said they had not felt any shortage. but one man said he had had to wait for two weeks and another said his coal merchant was eight weeks behind with orders. “I don’t see why we should stockpile it in summer. Coal is the merchants’ business. Why don’t they stock it?” he asked.