SHORTAGE OF COAL

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF COAL

Mr. Hislop’s Reference “For months past people have been suffering from lack of coal in their homes for warmth and through great deficiency in gas supplies due to the, same shortage in the supplies of coni,” said Mr. £'. 0. A. Hislop (National, Wellington North), at Webb Street last night. “An examination of. the position-shows that this state, of affairs is entirely due to inefficient Government, control. “In the first place the shortage is, m the main, almost entirely due to the methods pursued by the Government. Some time ago inquiries were instituted throughout New Zealand among all coalmine owners and figures were obtained as to the possible output of the mines. It should be borne in mind that the figures supplied by the mine owners were possible figures and based on the assumption that efficient and full time would be worked without any stoppage or any slackening in effort. In view, of course, ot the history of the past Ibis was an assumption that could hardly be warranted and which events have proved to be optimistic. However, on the basis ofthis possible output the Government cancelled their .contract with Newcastle and so prevented this prolific supply. being available in -the future as it was in the past in New Zealand. “No coal has arrived in Wellington for commercial purposes for the last three weeks, with the result, of course, that the public have Suffered severely. One coal dealer, for example, is 100 tons of coal short on last year’s supplies for the same four-monthly period. One yard that was already seven weeks in arrears with deliveries was granted the same quantity of coal as another yard which was only one week behind in supplies.” Mr. Hislop, in discussing other matters, urged a complete reorganization of the salary scale, grading system and other features causing dissatisfaction in the Public Service. This adjustment of longsuffered anomalies and injustices, he said, should first begin with the men on the lowest wage levels. The service should be placed on an equality with employees in outside businesses so far as wage conditions were concerned.