COAL SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 33, 9 February 1920, Page 7

COAL SUPPLIES

SOUTHERN MERCHANTS' COMPLAINT PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION. » Complaint was recently made by . the ' North Canterbury Coal Merchants'" and Dealers' Association that ■ the present basis of. allotment of supplies of coal placed retail dealers -on the . bottom of the list. The resolution drawing attention to this was 1 forwarded to the Prime Minister, and it was suggested that -all but essential railway services-should be abolished, so that larger supplies could be given to retailers. .\ It , was pointed out that large stocks of coal were held in • Christchurch by' the Railway Department. . ' ■ '" •'"■"■■ In -reply, Mr. Massey has written to Mr. H. J. Quarrell; secretary of the association, stating that it was a matter of extreme regret that, with the limited supplies of hard coal available for distribution, it was not possible* meantime to accede to the request ■ embodied in the resolution.

| "-AVith regard to the statement" made relative to the quantity of coal held. by the Railway Department at Christ,church," Mr. Massey continues, "I woula point out that it is essential for the maintenance of the present railway service that adequate, supplies be held in I reserve; otherwise, with the frequent intenuptions in the source;of supply, there ! would be a. grave danger 1 of services be- ] ing dislocated to the detriment of the j producing and manufacturing interests lof the Dominion. Touching the' reference made by your association to tho running of excursion and other trains d tiring the l'ecent holidays, I ,am convinced^ that, following on the long period of si.vess and anxiety to which the people of New Zealand have been subjected, the Gov- ! eixment was fully justified in providing ! railway facilities to enable the public to obtain the much-needed relaxation. I "Reverting to the_.question of, preference of allocation, your association will no doubt readily recognise the importance of maintaining freezing works, shipping and gasworks, primary and manufacturing industries, on which the prosperity of the Dominion is so largely dependent, in addition to the maintenance of railways and other public services, most of which 1 are equally essential. At the present time, freezing and threshing operations are in full swing throughout the Dominion, ■ and the greatest difficulty is being experienced in providing sufficient hard coal to enable them to carry on. Under such circumstances, it is inevitable that during the period when these industries are working at full 'pressure,/supplies' for household and other less essential pur : poses must suffer. The shortage in-the allocation of hard coal for ■ domestic requirements 1 can-in a measure be overcome by a more extensive use of -the lignite and brown coals, together with coke and firewood:" In order to-illustrate tho extreme shortage of hard coal existing, it is only- necessary to mention that the .Government has .found, it. necessary to purchase coal-in • South Africa, and two shipments ar* now en route to New Zealand to assist in maintaining freezing works, threshing plants, and other essential industries. In view of the foregoing, I feel sure that your association willsee that the best possible use is being made of the supplies of. hard coal available,- and that the distribution of the same is fair and equitable, and in the best national interests,"