COAL SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 6

COAL SUPPLIES

FOR CITY SERVICES

POSSIBILITY OF CURTAILMENT

DOMESTIC NEEDS

The Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister in oharge of ooal distribution, discussing (' subject of coal shortage yesterday, s». that acting on the same lines as he diil last winter, bo had carefully gono into the question as to whether any saving in coal consumption could be effected by making restriction in public services in those towns dependent on coal for power and light production. He had, therefore,, conferred with the engineer to the. Wellington Gas Company and the actingmanagers of the tramway and lighting departments of the Wellington City Council, who had reported to him as follows:— "Sir,—With reference to your suggestion that we should give consideration to any methods whereby the amount of coal consumed in tho supply of electricity and gas in Wellington,aud suburbs could be reduced, we beg to state that the various points mentioned during our recent interview have received our attention. "In our opinion, tho only practical method of effecting any material reduction in coal consumption would be to take the drastic step of. completely cutting off tho supply of these services for certain periods of tho day. This snould be avoided at all costs, as in would seriously disorganise the industrial lifo of tho city and cause great inconvenienco to essential public services, such as hospitals and similar institutions. l "Both the electricity department and the Gas Company have each over lG.OOt) consumers who use the supplies for lighting, industrial, heating, or cooking purposes. Consequently, any curtailment of these services would seriously affect tho whole community.

"In connection with the suggestion that shop illumination might be restricted, there is the serious dilticully of attempting to distinguish between essential lighting and illuminations for advertising purposes; and even if 6uch advertising could bo prohibited the saving would bo very small, seeing that the lighting is generally confined to one night in each week. '

"Tho cutting off of illuminated signs would also result in no material saving, as they are invariably used at times when the electric generators are running below their full capacity and efficiency. "We would take this opportunity of pointing out that tho most economical method of using coal for city services is by moans of the generation of electricity, or by carbonisation in gas works, in large units. In this correction it should bo remembered that in seeking to conserve tho coal supplies in England during the war period tho Coal Controller enforced this principle. "Unfortunately, the electric lighting department is unable to extend this principle at present on account of tho station plant being overloaded, and it has been found necessary in tho case of this department to curtail the use of heating appliances during tho time of tliu peak loading, which is from' 4 n.m to 7 p.m.

bo far as the'tramway system is concerned, any restrictions which might bo introduced with a view to reducing the fuel consumption would cause consider, able inconvenience to the travelling publie. Iho 1.30 p.m. closing, to the extent at present carried out, has proved beneficial, but any further extension of this system will tend to an overlapping of thu car load with tho private power load, ana would extend the daily period during which tbo machinery at the tramway powerhouse would be running at an overload.

"We have the honour to be, Sir, 'Tour obedient servants, "(Sgd.) ARCHIBALD DOUGALL, "Engineer Wellington Gas Co. "(Sgd.) GEORGE LAUCHLAN, "Acting General Manager, "Lighting Department. "(Sgd.) M. CABLE, "Acting-General Manager, "Tramway Department." Mr. Myers intimated that this report was borne out by reports he had received in the same connection from other centres, and it was obvious therefrom that uo material saving could bo effected in this direction without seriously disorganising public services and essential industries and causing extreme inconvenience to the public generally. Of course, if the coal stock situation necessitated it, drastic steps would have to bo taken to deal with same. In order, to enable coal trade committees to have closer control over supplieb to householders and to secure equitable distribution, amended regulations Jiavt been approved by Cabinet and gazetted, providing that not more than 10 cwt. shall be delivered to any one person at any.one time, and not more than one ton in any one period of 28 days, in place of I ton and 2 ton respectively as previouslv provided. Power U also provided in this regulation for the Minister in Cliargo by notioe in the Gazette to declare that in any area or areas, specified uo coal shall bo delivered without a permit issued by tho coul trade committee controlling tho area, concerned. This latter regulation is meantime being brought into operation in Wellington as from .Monday next, and it. is hoped will enable the Wellington Coal Trade Committee to exercise stricter control over distribution, especially in regard to domestic supplies.