IS THERE A COAL FAMINE?

Evening Star, Issue 11892, 21 May 1903, Page 4

IS THERE A COAL FAMINE?

Having heard many rumors and read many letters bearing on the above question,- one of out representatives has been making inquiries in various places, with the object of finding • out the real state of affairs. Th« result of these investigations was the collection of numerous opinions and theories, which, -when shorn of the occasional little , exaggerations and other peculiarities common among things told to a Pressman, shaken together and looked at from a distance, show the position clearly enough-. Without going into detail unnecessarily, the question which forms the heading of this article may be answered in the negative. There is no coal famine. Dunedin, of all placed, is one of the least likely to be afflicted in this way, surrounded as she is by coal mines, besides being supplied, in common with other centres, with the products of Newcastle, Westport, etc. There is plenty of coal to be had, but apparently the householder wants n particular sort of coal, and, like the baby in the picture, "won't be happy till he gets it." The fortunate mine that has so won popularity is that at Kaitnngata, and it is a temporary short-age of supply from this district that has caused the murmurings which have reached us. There has certainly of late been a big scramble for coal when the railway trucks are opened in the mornings, but this is explainable in the same way.. The coal merchant tells us that the average customer will have Kaitangata- coal; that of. late he has. been grumbling as to its quality, and that they (the merchants) are powerless to satisfy demands. One merchant told our representative that be blamed himself and his confreres to some extent for the present crisis in that they do not stock the coal when there is plenty in the market, and sol have some by for a "rainy day." It is stated by others that the coal referred to breaks up, and will not stand stocking, but our informant Fays -that if properly stowed and protected from the weather it will last as well as may be. Mr Lee, of the Kaitangata Cpmpany, admits that their coal is more susceptible to atmospheric chances than some other coals, but tbis, no doubt, is a matter of experience, At any rate, Mr Lee says candidly that, even had the merchants (with whom he sincerely sympathises) yarded coals as suggested, it would have gone but part of the way in meeting the present difficulty. ■ Mr Lee went very thoroughly into the noritioh with our representative, and made it clear that the present shortage is but.temporary, and is, in fact, already beglnninc to decrease. Briefly put, the difficulty hascome about thus: The old mine has been practically worked out, and the drives are being extended into new seams. . The .technical difficulties attendant upon this devolopment, though too complicated for explanation here, will be readily underf'nn<i hv those acquainted with coal mining. To keep up .with demand under these conditions more men are needed, and these are not readily obtainable. New hands are gradually coming in, however, and Mr Leo is confident that .in a week or so the output- will be ample. As it is, it is increasing I daily. Yesterday at the Rattray street s-iding there V CT e eighteen trucks of Kaitangata coal, whereas the. daily average, for a week or two previously was stated at about six. As..'to quality, he is.satisfied that the coal in the new workings (of which there is a plentitude)'is as good as'that in the old—it is all practically one mine. It has been suegested that lack of sufficient hands may have something to do with the present state of affairs, but Mr -Lee .is emphatic in saving that the Railway Department has always been most considerate, and endeavored' to meet hinj in every possible way. " I sympathise with the merchants and the consumers," he said finally, " but after all we are. not under contract to' supply them with coals, and if they will be patient with us for a little longer we will do our best to satisfy their demands."