SCARCITY OF COAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1919, Page 12

SCARCITY OF COAL

HARD WINTER IN ENGLAND

The outlook in regard to supplies of all descriptions of fuel is stated to be far worse than it was at any time during.: tho war, says the Manchester Guardian (Ist September). The loss in production of something like four million tons through recent strikes, combined with the loss through the reduction of working, hours, -has resulted.in reserve stocks being heavily depleted. Supplies for food production and household purposes are supposed to have priority, but they have not always had it, owing to special emergency orders from the Coal Controller's departments for immediate supplies to be sent to places where stocks are at very low levels—chiefly gas concerns. As far as house coal is concerned, the winter will come upon us under much more un-favourable-circumstances than last year, ;is it has not been possible for the public generally to put in stocks this year on anything like the scale they did last year. - - !

.Generally speaking, merchants are unable to make any impression on tho number of orders on hand, as the sup. plies received are substantially less than they aro entitled to under the Coal Controller's instructions.