WEST COAST COAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1942, Page 4

WEST COAST COAL

SUPPLIES RESTRICTED.

A.s a result of an order issued by the Mining Controller, Mr. C. H. Benney, supplies of household coal from the mines in the Grey district including the co-operative concerns, have been considerably restricted, as regards quality. The restriction has been imposed to allow the Railways Department to build up to their normal reserve stocks, which are stated to have become seriously depleted. No definite date for the lifting of the restriction has been announced, but in view of the scone of the rectrir-

tion it should not be for anv lengthy period. The order states that screened and unscreened coal from the Strongman State colliery and screened Liverpool coal are not to be made available to dealers in household coal. Unscreened Liverpool coal, and James screened coal will be available, but the demand for these classes of coal cannot be compared with orders for Strongman coal, or even Liverpool screened coal. The State mines in the Runanga district are the principal collieries affected, as the bulk of the household coal comes from those mines. The effect of the restriction on the supply of Strongman coal on Greymouth householders is indicated by an estimate given by a Greymouth dealer to-day, that approximately 600 tons of that coal are delivered by the dealers'in the town every month.