L.P.G. getting scarce, dear

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 1

L.P.G. getting scarce, dear

Liquefied petroleum gas is becoming scarcer and dearer in Christchurch as seamen continue to refuse to handle L.P.G. containers. Supplies of L.P.G. are being flown to the South Island, but they are expected to go to only those customers who are desperately short of supplies. Further shipments of L.P.G. in Union Steam Ship Company vessels are unlikely until the dispute over insurance cover for the seamen is settled. The Seamen’s Union has banned any handling of L.P.G. containers, and talks with the company have failed to resolve the disjpute. which has seriously affected South Island sup- ' plies for two months. The company’s industrial manager (Mr R. J. Ross) said last evening that there

had been no progress in negotiations with the union. Christchurch consumers can expect to pay more for the air-freighted supplies, which have cost Rockgas, Ltd, SlO a cylinder to transport from Wellington to Blenheim alone. The South Island manager of Rockgas (Mr R. J. Boyce) said 15 45kg cylinders had been flown to Blenheim, and would arrive in Christchurch by rail today. ■ The company’s supplies were “no good at all” at present, Mr Boyce said. “I wish they would only hurry up and break the dispute.” Big L.P.G. users in the South Island include New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, H. E. Shadlock, the Post Office, the Railways Department, hospitals, and restaurants.