TRUCK SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 February 1947, Page 3

TRUCK SHORTAGE

OUTPUT OF WAIKATO MINES AFFECTED THREE COLLIERIES STOPPED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The railway truck shortage reached serious proportions, yesterday, when the output of several Waikato coal mines was reduced because there were not sufficient trucks to carry away the coal. The Railway Department, earlier in the week, had appealed for more railway coal from the mines in the area. Three mines stopped production early in the afternoon, and two others lost a short period of work. At' Rotowaro and Alison, two mines of Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., work came to a stand still at 2 p.m., and it is estimated that the consequent loss in production was between 800 and 400 tons. The Pukemiro mine’s truck supply ended at the same time, and its output dropped between 50 and 100 tons.

The Renown mine was not affected, but at the Glen Afton and McDonald mines, the truck supply ended almost at the close of the day, and work was stopped about 10 minutes early. It is expected that sufficient -wagons will be available to-day. Auckland railway officials said, there was no sign of an improvement in the coal stocks. Earlier this week, less than a week’s supply of coal was in hand for the district north of Taihape, and the amount of coal being used had been greater than the supply coming into the yards. So far, timetables have not been affected. •