Weather sells fuel

Press, 28 March 1980, Page 4

Weather sells fuel

Coal and firewood are in steadv demand since the; cold weather in early March. • Cut timber is likely to be scarce later in the winter and already most contractors are booked two months, in advance. Most grades of coal were available from the West Coast. Ohai (Southland), and Heaphy mines, said the manager of the Papanui Coal Company (Mr L. Barr). Demand for the higher-grade, space-heater fuels had started earlier this year after a shortage last year and the; recent cold snaps, he said. There would be a 15 to 20; cent increase per bag of coal 1 this year because of in-

creased freight costs. But no dramatic price rises were expected later in the year, Mr Barr said.

A survey of Christchurch coalyards has shown that coal retails from $4.60 a bag for fast coal up to $5.60 a bag for the higher grades of coal.

I Mr Barr said that the • higher-grade Linton and I Huntly coals were not available at present. The Linton , mine in Southland was • flood-damaged last year, still . not producing to full capacity, and was supplying only ithe local market. No Huntly licoal would be shipped south I this winter. I Cut timber was scarce as'

contractors were running out of areas to cut. They had to go further out to cut blocks and fewer . were servicing the market because of increased costs. < said Mr Barr.

This had pushed the price of cut timber up to about $35 for timber off-cuts, $4O •to $45 for split pine, and $7O for split manuka. Most contractors were delivering six to seven cords of wood a day. Christchurch chimney sweeps have also experienced a busy period since the drop in temperature earlier in the month and expect the trend to continue until May.