Over 5000 Tons Of Coal Now Stored In Dump

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1950, Page 4

Over 5000 Tons Of Coal Now Stored In Dump

With no improvement in the general coal stock position and a continued shortage of transport, dumping of Strongman coal into open air storage at the railhead at Rapahoe had to be resorted to again today. The dumping was originally adopted as a temporary measure when the May floods dislocated the West Coast railway system, but the dump has now been added to from time to time until it now contains almost 5500 tons, valued at about £15,000. Although Strongman coal is regarded as one of the Dominion’s best bitumenous coals, for industrial and domestic purposes, and there are sufficient orders to absorb the full output of the mine, the transport systems have been unable to cope with the full amount produced for some month and small quantities taken from the dump from time to time have been just as quickly replaced and added to. Supply Of Wagons Today, there were insufficient flat wagons available and hoppers released from load at the wharf to keep all the mines working. When the trucks that were available were distributed to the best advantage it was fotmd that both Roa and Strongman mines could receive only about half the number required to cope with their day’s output. In the case of Roa, the surplus could be fitted into the bins which, like those of all other State mines in the district, are near capacity. There is no bin accommodation for run-of-the-mine coal at Strongman, however, and the only alternative to idling the mine w r as to add about half the day’s production to the open-air dump. Some weeks ago, the Strongman miners passed a resolution opposing further “dumping” of coal, but later this motion was rescinded. In addition to the 5500 tons in the dump at Rapahoe, about 10,000 tons of coal is held in storage in the bins at the other Grey district State mines. All are near capacity, and this has added to the difficulty of allocating the limited wagon supply. In effect, the question of whether certain mines could continue working has had to be decided upon a day-to-day basis for some weeks. Delays To Shipping

The whole position was complicated by the hold-up to shipping through the waterfront strike and, prior to that, by a period of unfavourable shipping conditions at Greymouth. The loading of the Kiwitea this week gave some relief and the arrival of the Omana at the weekend will also be a help. Should there be any undue delay to this or subsequent vessels however, 'all mines will be in difficulties. ■ A remarkable feature of the whole situation is the fact that the markets do not appear to be embarrassed by the holding of over 15,000 tons of coal in storage in the Grey-district. Some time ago, the demand -for coal was such that the absence of such a huge quantity from the markets would have caused a “shortage” outcry, but on this occasion there has been little or no comment. This would appear to indicate that a change has come over the whole coal position in the Dominion.