COAL SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 8

COAL SHORTAGE

—_—» RESTRICTION OF CITY SERVICES

POSITION OF THE PICTURE

THEATRES

CORPORATION PROPOSALS

DISCUSSED

The very drastic restrictions proposed , in respect to the city electric light and ' tramways services in the report sub- i milled Jjy tho City Engineer and Tramways Manager (Mr. W. 11. Morton) have created quite a stir in tho city, and ,a good many people aro wondering , how their interests aro going to be affected should tho proposals be carried into effect. Ono of the clauses deals with the picture shows, and proposes ' that it should bo mado compulsory for no picture show to open before 7 p.m., in ' order to reduce the demands made upon ' the electric lighting power stations ior ' current, Tho clause has caused something like consternation among the proprietors of tho continuous picture . theatres, which commence tho day's operations either at 11 a.m. or noon. It is realised that economies sro ncces- i siiry, but it is doubted whethor the council "had the power to close tho theatres in the day time should they have or bo able to make arrangements for an alternative service, such as might bo managed with an oil engine. The arguments ngainst the day closure were, broadly, that it would constitute an iin.luo interference with the livelihood of a great numbor of people, not only the owners, but the staffs, mon and women; that in a great many instances tho daytime was the only timo that many women and children could visit the theatres; and, > further, that it might not bo advantageous to the State to create an atmosphere of gloom and depression by depriving tho public of this cheap and simple form of entertainment so universally popular. One manager went, as far as to state that it would spell ruin to him were he forced to close up during the daytime, and another stated that it would mean, in all probability, the difference between profit and loss. Statement by the' Mayor. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), when consulted about tho compulsory closing clause, said that it was not within tho province of tho council to close tho theatres as proposed in the report. If that were done it would bo through the medium of a war regulation. As to tho position of those proprietors who might get an alternative plant to provide electric light, the Government might consider it -unfair to allow one theatre privileges that another did r.ot enjoy. Tho whole question, said His Worship, was based on an inquiry from tho Government as to how tho council could cut down the sjnount of coal required so as to provide some sort of sorvico, both as regards lighting and tramways, commensurate with war-time efficiency. Ths Government, through the National Efficiency Board, was making inquiries throughout the Dominion as, to the minimum amount of coal' required for carrying on essential businesses and services, owing to tho shortage of supplies cause! by various conditions si ml the difficulty iii getting tonnage to carry those supplies. The lighting and power they considered of tho greatest importance, owing to the needs of the community and that so many industries in Wellington depended upon electrical power, and they had to be conservative in tho use of prosent stocks owing to +ho possibility of them "petering out" suddenly. Tho report had been framed after a consultation with tho chairman of tho National Efficiency Board, and a later interview with the Minister, when it was mado clear that those authorities wished to know how far the Wellington City Council was prepared to fall into line in the direction of meeting the abnormal conditions which had arisen. They were getting reports from all other centres, bodies, and businesses, in order that they might ascertain approximately the amount of coal that will bo required to maintain essential services and industries to enable an equitable distribution to bo made throughout the Doniinion. What the Mnyor wishes to emphasiso is that, notwithstanding the 6pinions that may bo expressed outside, tho council and its 'officers aro constantly endeavouring by every means to build up and conserve its limited coal supplies. It has been securing only small driblets of coal of late, and r.ne tramways'manager, with :ho engineer-in-charge of the powerhouses, have adapted, some of the furnaces at tho lighting station so that fuel consisting cf 50 per cent, of_ coke could be lonsumed without materially impairing the efficiency of the service. At the tramways powerhouse the job was a more difficult one, but even there they had been ablo to use a breeze (coke 6lack) mixture fairly successfully. The trouble was that the whole of tho tramways power had to be used to tho fullest extent to give the required power over all lines, partly owing to a big booster for the lines east of the Constable Street 'hill (which was ordered two years ago) not having been delivered. For that reason a higher voltage had to be maintained than would otherwise be needed, and to , get that the best of coal was needed. The sluggish rate of speed of the cars noticeable in the rush hours, iind particularly between 5 p.m. and G p.m., which must have been apparent to everyone who uses the cars was caused through tho inferior, fuel which had been resorted to in order to eke out the supply of the better-class coal in hand. The best coal was the only coal that would give them the result when pack loads were required in tho busiest hours of tho day. When inferior coal was useil in tho furnaces at the tramways power station, its tendency was to cako. around the fire-clay interiors instead cf becoming incandescent and making the fireclay incandescent. As soon as tho caking took plnco dowvn wont tho temperature. 'The furnaces at the lighting station wore fed automatically on to travelling chain grates, which allowed of a freer accession of air and livelier combustion. The position was such at the present timo that there were three now cars ready for the track, but they could not ho used as the power plant was taxed to its fullest capacity without them.