NO COAL

Evening Star, Issue 26042, 5 March 1947, Page 7

NO COAL

SYDNEY FACES POWER SHORTAGE

POSITION STEADILY DETERIORATING

SYDNEY, March 4. Sydney is again on the edge of power and light rationing, because of the complete collapse of the coal supply. The Buunerong power house, which is responsible for electric light and power over most of the metropolitan area, has exhausted all its reserve stocks of coal, and is running on wliat can be delivered from hour to hour.

The Minister of Works, Mr J. J. Cahill, said this afternoon that a few hundred tons were on the way, but the normal consumption at Bunnerong is 2,000 tons a day. Short black-outs have already occurred in some suburbs, but no actual request for rationing had been made this afternoon when. Mr Cahill discussed the matter with the Premier,

Mr James McGirr. Yesterday the power house received 1,000 tons less than it consumed, and so far the position has been the same to-day. The matter has been referred to the newly appointed Coal Commission. Meanwhile, the position 'is steadily deteriorating. Coal production amounting to 20,700 tons was lost to-day through the idleness of 20 collieries, mostly efue to strikes. As to-morrow is now being observed as a day of complete stoppage during discussions by the miners on a general strike, no relief is likely. One pit which was not worked yesterday, in spite of the direction by the district miners’ executive, is being operated to-day, but the damage has been done, and steel workers at Newcastle and Port Kembla are being laid off. , Special trains have been cancelled, and railwav time-tables are likely to be curtailed. The domestic gas situation is precarious, the companies holding only sufficient reserve for between a day’s and a week’s service.