COAL SHORTAGE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 123, 25 May 1920, Page 8

COAL SHORTAGE

MASS MEETING AT PETONE

RAILWAYMEN PROTEST,

The serious position that has arisen owing to the inadequate supplies of coal for domestic purposes was discussed at a mass meeting of railwaymen at Petone Workshops to-day. The president of the Wellington branch of the A.S.R.S. acted as chairman, and Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, Mayor ' of Petone, addressed the meeting and outlined the steps 'which had- been taken by the council to try^ and relieve matters. The council; Ec said, had asked that the coal dealers should be restricted to the supply of coal in one hundredweight lots, which was the method adopted by the council, but the Coal Trade Committee had refused to do this, stating that such a procedure would add to the price.- But, said Mr. M'Ewan, this committee ignored the fact that the council was selling in one hundredweight lots at a cheaper rats than the retailers were selling large quantities. If all the coal was disposed of at the same rate as that at which the council sold, there would be a y saving to the people of £1400. Showing how supplies had diminished, the speaker said that in January, February, and March, 1919, th* council received lots of 128, 144, and 142 tons respectively, while for the same months this year, the amount received was 18 tons 14 cwt,- 39 tons 6 cwt., and 6, tons, for the respective months. On the basis of supplies received in May, .both by the council and private dealers there was a shortage of 66^ tons per week in the supplies allotted to Petone. With respect to a dealer who was selling coal at 5s per cwt, the council had "decided to report the-matter to the Board of Trade, and to the Coal Trade Committee, with a. view to action being taken for profiteering. He considered the case to be much worse than that of the grocer who was fined £100 recently.

Mr. G. Hogs said the position of those who dealt with the council was very hard, as, if the council had no coal, dealers refused to supply to any but their own customers, while the council supplied all and sundry.

A resolution was unanimously passed calling upon thei representatives of fhe people to bring pressure upon the Parliamentary representatives to have prior consideration given in the House to domestic problems. ■ . ,