COAL SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 16821, 24 August 1918, Page 5

COAL SHORTAGE

<J O VERS M KNT COMMAND EERI NG COAIFIAINT.

[Spkcul to the ' Star. ']

(.'HRbSTUHUJiaH, August 23. Ketail coal dealers in Ohristchurch are very much concerned about the shortage of coal and their inability to supply customers. One dealer, speaking to a 'S'un' representative this afternoon, stated that nothing but ligiute coal had been available for the past fortnight. Hs spoke bitterly concerning the alleged extant of eommandeenng by the Gorernmeut, which, he stated, was excessive, week 300 tons had been sent to Addington Workshops yard, because of tho fact that the Limvood yard was full. He thought that tho Government were not treating tho public fairly in commandeering so much of the bituminous cosh and thought they might at least allow the merchants sufficient to send out a proportion of one bag of bituminous coal to one of lignite. It was necessary that the railways should run. of course, but it was equally necessary that people should havo sufficient coal with which to cook their meals, to enable them to do the work of the country. The people did not understand the position, and an investigation should be made as to tho actual oxtont of the stocks of coal held by the Government.