THE COAL SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 5

THE COAL SHORTAGE

BUPPUJiS. COItING - :is[ FREELY,

i Coal is novr arriving .in Wellington {■"Xi freeliv and ' thanks to the , report that toe miners are "doing their bit" Xα make up the recent shortage, the feollng in the city is much, more buoyant than it was a week ago. As -usual in 'May and June, there is always a very .lively demand for ooal i Q Wellington on iho part of those householders who manage to eke out the summer months on a bag or. two. With winter ahead, and so much being said about the shortage of coal, the orders received by coal merchants have been unusually heavy during the present month, but notwithstanding the rush, they are managing to catch up to the demand, arid another week, if supplies continue lo arrive as freely as during the past week, should see matters, locally at all , events, pretty well back to normal. \The situation- is still attected by the large demands on the part of the many industrial undertakings which dopend on ooal for their steam power. Such firms which allowed their stocks to be depleted, or had to submit to such depletion owing lo tho "go.slow" tactics at the mines, are all anxious to build up big reserves, and should the mines keep up their present output'there is not much doubt that they; will. bo ablo to dq so, even though it is winter time, T."hen .it is usual to encroach on reserves instead of building them up. During the present week the City Corporation has been ablo to add to its dwindling reserves, and the outlook to-day is much brighter than it was a week or two ago. Advantage has been taken of the clearance of the tramways powerhouse' coal dump to floor the area with! tarred mptal. This, sprinkled with sandj makes an excellent bottom for the dump, and ensures a hard,, clean approach for the horse, and carts when, shifting the coal. . -