COAL SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 8

COAL SHORTAGE

AT THE CITY GASWORKS. The Gas Committee of the City Council report that the position in regard to coal supplies for the works is very unsatis- j factory, and ia causing a good deal of anxiety. At tho outbreak of war, the works were well supplied with reserve stocks, but these have now disappeared. Recently the position became so acute that the works were compelled to make up the deficiency in coal gas production by an t increased percentage of_ water gas, and the- j use of a mixture of Kaitangata coal and J shale. This in turn necessitated the tem- 1 porary stoppage of coke'sales to the public, jfl and the quality of the gas, tar, and coke M was al?o affected. Representations were ~jH made to the Munitions and Supplies Board, and as the result of repeated_ ap- 1 plications, advice has now been received of the allocation of a quantity of coal for tho City Gasworks. Pressing requirements have therefore been met, but the j position is still most unsatisfactory as ] there is no guarantee of adequate sapplies M In the future. The matter is being again W taken up with the Munitions Board with. M a view to ensuring that the works shall 1 receive sufficient supplies of coal for the 1 maintenance of an efficient and uninter- | rupted gas supply for the public. «