Sydney May Ration Gas, Coal Cut Off By Floods

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 5

Sydney May Ration Gas, Coal Cut Off By Floods

SYDNEY, June 23. The authorities will decide today whether gas shall be rationed in Sydney during the week-end. The company which supplies most of the city with domestic gas has asked for a permit for rationing as from tonight. Thousands of tons of first-quality gasmaking coal is in stacks and trucks in the Cessnock area but the floods have cut all the railway lines. Today, the Joint Coal Board began lifting 500 to 600 tons of coal daily by motor trucks and carrying it to a point where it can be railed to Sydney. The Cessnock field is the main gascoal source for New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Melbourne commenced gas rationing last night. Storms have held up colliers which normally maintain the supply between Newcastle and Sydney. The flood position has eased’ slightly but scattered rains are still falling. Four more railway lines have been closed and the main southern line out of Sydney is the only track completely clear for traffic. All lines north of Newcastle are washed out and it will be a ‘week before services are restored. The flood damage at Maitland is believed to be over as the river level is falling. Sydney’s week-end food supplies have again been affected. Fruit and vegetables, quantities of which are , being flown in from other States, are believed to be in adequate supply, but fish will be almost unobtainable by Monday. ■ In a cyclonic storm in Brisbane six inches of rain fell in three hours. Meanwhile Melbourne was blanketed in the eleventh “pea soup’’ fog in 11 days.