DEMAND FOR POWER Question Of Coal Supplies

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 8

DEMAND FOR POWER Question Of Coal Supplies

The serious situation that would arise if there were not sullieient .supplies of coal available to generate enough electricity to meet the extra demand for electric power was stressed by a deputation representing Hie Wellington City Council ami the Auckland, Thames, Manawatu and Horowhenua Power Boards which waited on lite Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb. Every possible effort, replied the Minister, would lie made to arrange the supply of coal necessary and Hills avoid any curtailment of supplies id' electricity. ’l'lte deputation was headed by Mr. .1 A. Nash, chairman of Hie Power Boards' Association. Speakers for the deputation sirid that if sullieient supplies of coal were not forthcoming rationing would have to take place. It was estimated that lite North island power boards would require about 170.000 tons of extra coal for tin year. The Minister assured the deputation that everything would be done to see that power boards in he North Island v.oiild have made available to them sullieient coal Io satisfy I lie extra demand for power. The coal industry, he added, had established a record in production lasi year, and had made available in the Dominion nearly SI.Olli) tons wore than the previous year. Recently the Govertmi til had opened up two pew mines and one of them was already producing 500 tons a week, and lite miter should be in production within a fortnight. Mt Webb spoke of Ihe shipping dillieulties for Soul it Island coal. They had more than 30.000 tons of steam coal on the State fields at Greymouth, and Reefton could produce many thousands of lons more if 'hipping could be arranged. Mr Webb assured Hu deputation that he would visit the Waikato and arrange a conference between Hu.' owners and flic men and invite represent;rilives of the power boards.