COAL SHORTAGE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 27, 1 August 1917, Page 3

COAL SHORTAGE

OVERCOMING A DIFFICULTY

The difficulty in securing sufficient tonnage to keep the New Zealand coal, import trade at normal is referred to in the annual report of the Mimitions and Supplies Department; laid on the table in the -House of Representatives yesterday. The report states that the attention of the Government was towards the close of last year directed to .the then immediate possibility of hard steam-coal supplies running short of demands for Imperial and national purposes. It quoted the following figures showing the proportion of imported coal—all hard steam-coal :—

The report further states: —"On this being fully considered it was decided to endeavour to secure outside tonnage to assist, the Railway Department, and to request the Admiralty to endeavour to place some of their supplies at the disposal of the New Zealand Government. As a result of this some 34,415 tons of hard steam-coal was imported early this ■year. This supply has been treated in the nature of a reserve, and has been placed at the disposal of the coal-consumers at an approximate price of £2 10s peT ton, with the right to. return Newcastle or New Zealand West Coast coal, say, within two months. It is satisfactory to be able to record the fact that this reserve ■stock of coal has been of material benefit, directly or indirectly, to many essential industries and undertakings,: .including' the .Railway Departments Wellington Gas Company, 'Colonial Sugar-refining Company, Northern Shipping Company,' Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Defence Department, Lyttelton Harbour Board, New Zealand Shipping Company, New Zealand and African' Steamship Company,, and the Union Steam Ship Company." '. ;■' - ;

N.Z. Output. Imported. Total. Tons. Tons.- . Tons. 1912 ...■ 2,177,615 364,359 2,541,974 1.913 . 1,888,005 468,940: 2,356,945 1914 2 275 614 518,070 2,793,684 1015 '" 2,208,624 , ,353,471 2,562,095 1916 2,341,000 293,956 2,634,956