RAILWAYS AND COAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1944, Page 2

RAILWAYS AND COAL

MR. SEMPLE'S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, November 6. “In view of the fact that 1 have been subject to considerable pressure from all sides to increase rail services during the holiday season, I feel that the true position should be known by th' 7 - public,” said Mr. Semple. “In my opinion the full story as to the necessity of imposing reductions in tram services has been deliberately misrepresented by those who have not the interests of the Dominion at heart and with a view to clarifying the position, 1 have obtained data from the Mmes Department which shows the true position and moreover justifies the Government in the action which it has taken. In the first place the records show that during the war ol 1914-18, the decline in the production of New Zealand coal produced a most serious position. The output fell from 2,275,614 tons in 1914 to 2,034,250 .tons in 1918, a decrease of 241,364 tons or 10.6 per cent.' During the present war, however the production of New Zealand coal has risen from 2,354,639 tons in 1939 to 2,787,860 tons in 1943, an increase of 445,221 tons or 19 per cent. “ft is interesting to note that from 1914 to 1927, importations of coal worn received from Newcastle, India, Africa, .Japan, America, Queensland, Canada, Yorkshire, Wales and the importation of coal considerably augmented the supply in the Dominion. Since the Labour Government came into office, as a result of its policy of assisting secondary industry, etc., in New Zealand, the consumption of coal has increased very considerably. If we go back as far as 1935 to make comparisons, the following statistics of consumption are outstanding on Railways:—l93s, 397,310; 1943, 611,841; increase, 214,531. It is well? worth mentioning also that coal used in electricity plants for electricity generation shows an increase of 546, per cent. There is no doubt that the lack of Australian coal has had a very serious effect on gas production and also on the Railways. Another important factor which reasonable people will appreciate is that the supply of bitumous coal has been made more difficult on account of the West Coast harbours having been bar bound for long periods and an additional reason is that shipping space is no longer available to the same extent as before the war. It is well known by those who have studied the position without bias that the coal shortage does not apply to New Zealand only. “I know, of course, that what the people want to know is what train services will be running during the Christmas holidays and I realise this is very important to them. At the moment until the situation is thoroughly clarified. I am not in a position to make a public .statement but I shall certainly take the people into my confidence as I always do at the earliest possible moment as I realise that after a strenuous working year it is their desire to take the opportunity to visit the various resorts and friends throughout the Dominion with a view to their recuperating for the strenuous period which lies ahead.”