NO COAL RESERVES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 4

NO COAL RESERVES

Wellington Gas Company’s

Position

NEWCASTLE SHIPMENTS THE ONLY SOLUTION

“For many years before the outbreak of war the company maintained reserve stocks of coal sufficient for six mouths,” said Dr. C. Prendergast Knight, chairman of directors, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Gas Company yesterday. “Owing to the acute shortage of coal in Australia, no Newcastle coal lias been received since June, 1943. The New Zealand shipments have been insufficient, so that all our reserve stocks have been used. Owing to the bar at Greymouth being unworkable for some time past, no direct shipments have been received from there; coal is railed to Westport for shipment to Wellington, and we are at present entirely dependent on small and irregular shipments from this source. , _ t , “W e appreciate the efforts made by the Coal Controller to meet the position, and we realize that he is endeavouring to maintain our supplies. However, the present position is very serious and even now, in mid-summer, our stocks arc dangerously low and we are carrying on from day to day. Coal stocks throughout the Dominion are depleted and the only solution appears to be the resumption of shipments from Newcastle. “The past year was a very difficult one and the board regretted the nccessify for restricting the supply of gas with a consequent inconvenience to consumers. We have to acknowledge the co-operation of consumers under these trying conditions. “The extension of the carbonizing plant consisting of sixteen Glover West vertical retorts with a daily capacity, of 650,000 cubic feet, has been in progress for over three years. There have been delays owing to war conditions, but I am pleased to report that erection is now nearing completion; the plant should be available for gas making during this winter.” .