SEEKING RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1920, Page 8

SEEKING RELIEF

THE COAL SHORTAGE

SPECIAL SHIPMENT ARBANGED,

The Coal Trade Committee is still being harassed by demands from all quarters. Its problem is the reverse of the proverbial impossibility, for it has to fill a quart pot with a pint. Just at present difficulties are increased by the amount of sickness in all parts of the country. In every oase of proved, sickness orders for fuel are given precedence ; but the number of these orders'is now so great that it is necessary to adopt special measures for their fulfilment. Accordingly the committee has arranged for the Kaiapoi to load at Greymouth early next week with a cargo which will be allocated wholly to the domestic market in Wellington Province. The vessel will bring about 2500 tons of coal, which will be distributed over the Wellington Province to meet, first, emergency orders where there is sickness, and next to catch up a little on the accumulated orders. The State depot and large and small dealers have APW- orders on their books for a period'Sof abou,t two months, and it is not possible that the special shipment; will ; suffice for more than the most urgent "of these. Therefore, people who contemplate putting in fresh orders because of this special snipment may save themselves the trouble. .

■ The committee proposes to devote a portion of the cargo to the establishment of emergency reserves in the smaller towns. At present,-']!! eases of sickness, householders in provincial towns have no means of obtaining reliei if dealers' stocks are cleared-out—as most of t-hem are. It is hoped now to place a.fe^ tons, in each town, not to be drawn upon except in cases of sickness or an order from the Mayor. ( Bad, weather experienced all round New Zpaland has accentuated the shortage, by causing'delays at the bar.harbours on the West Coast. For example, Greymouth was closed for two days this week, and for three days last week. Wet weather has also' delayed discharge at other ports. How serious delays of thia kind are can'only be understood by' people who know how acute is the shortane of coastal shipping. In normal times there would be reserves of coal and reserves of shipping to tide the community over "temporary dislocations—now there is no reserve of either kind. One effect of the delays is that gasworks, tramway, and lighting power stations, and other essential industries have to be kept going from supplies intended for other purposes. This hurts the domestic coal consumer, but the Coal Committee has to consider that the household would be hurt more by a stoppage of trams, or gas, or electricity for lighting orheating. Coastal shipping makes a big demand on coal supplies, but transport must be maintained at any cost, for the good of both the city- and the country. Even as it is, industry is hampered. For example, cement is wanted for buildings and public work 3of all descriptions, put the supply cannot be increased without more coal.

The Coal Committee points out that the shortage is not local, or provincial, but national. The work of the committee is to see that each locality is dealt with as fairly as possible. supplies are increased the position cannot be improved in one town without robbing another community. For example, Petone has complained, but it is said that many localities are in a worse position, but have not complained. During April and May allocations of household "coal to Petone amounted to 246 tons; and during the same period Greater Wellington (including Ngaio, Khandallah, Karori, and Miramar boroughs) received 2623 tqna. On a population basis (roughly 70(50 to 80,000) it is contended that Petone was not entitled to a larger share. It goes without saying that the committee would be pleased to give Petone all it requires, but not at the expense of other towns as badly situated. . . . .•

The Coa] Committee has sent the following reply to the Mayor of Petone's telegram : "Replying your telegram allocations to State depot already insufficient meet overwhelming requirements. Our figures show that on population basis, Petone'e allocation for domestic purposes more than equal that to Greater Wellington."