NO SHORTAGE AFTER NEXT WEEK

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 15

NO SHORTAGE AFTER NEXT WEEK

Statement by Minister of Mines Further reference to the .steps he had taken, to relieve the shortage of bituminous West Coast coal in Wellington was made yesterday by the Minister of Mines, Hon. P. C. AVebb. As announced by the Minister in yesterday’s “Dominion,” arrangements have been made with the Railway Department to make .150 tons of Stockton coal available to dealers with a view to meeting their immediate requirements.

“I do not anticipate any serious' shortage after the next week,” added Mr. Webb, “as I understand that fairly substantial shipments will come to hand. I am endeavouring to have increased supplies of New Zealand coal made available to local dealers at an early moment. “There have been complaints com-. ; ing to me from people in the coal trade about the vessels being too large for the West Coast coal ports, and it has been suggested for some time that the facilities could be improved. I have taken this matter up with the shipping companies, who have advised that shipping space available is ample, provided they can work the bar, and they claim that with favourable weather they would have no difficulty in handling all the coal available. “In some instances the mines, particularly those in the Grey district, are handicapped by a shortage of rolling stock. This has been a long-standing grievance. When the present Government came into office the Minister of Railways ordered large quantities of iron and steel to increase the rolling stock, but owing to conditions abroad many of those supplies are- not yet to hand. The Minister assures me that every available man has been employed to push the work along as speedily as possible.”