COAL SUPPLIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1944, Page 3

COAL SUPPLIES

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S REFERENCE

“The League has been approached with regard to the present difficulties experienced by householders in obtaining coal supplies,” stated a subcommittee report adopted by the Westland District Progress League last evening. “It is said there is a greater number of range-users in Greymouth pro rata than in the centres. A local coal merchant is. getting two trucks per week to supply 600 customers, and other merchants are in the same position. One of the trucks is Blackball coal, which is said to be very dirty for ranges. Coal cannot be purchased by the merchants from the co-op. miners as these dispose of their full output to merchants in Christchurch or elsewhere. It seems strange that coal cannot be made available in reasonable quantities so near the source of supply. One would think that with shipping delays ample coal would be available locally. Now that Strongman coal is off the local market for at least two weeks a difficult situation arises for housewives. It is suggested that the Under-Secretary of Mines be written to, urging him to make Strongman available again as early as possible and that in the meantime other coal be provided for household use in the event of any further shipping delays-” » -n The Under-Secretary oi .Mines will be approached on the topic.