COAL SUPPLIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5246, 11 August 1919, Page 5

COAL SUPPLIES

STATEMENT BY HON. A. M MYERS'.

QUANTITY IN SIGHT TOTALS 67,187 TONS.

Press Association Telegram WELLINGTON, August 9. The Hon. A. M. Myers gave details of the coal shipments now in .sight. Three weeks ago lie enumerated the ships arranged to bring 45,000 tons of Australian and 26,000 tons of American coal. Some of these have arrived and have been discharged. Unfortunately there were several cases in which labor difficulties hampered the carrying out of the proposed shipments. One of these, the Waitomo, arrangements 'for which were made to bring across from Newcastle 6500 tons- of coal, 4500 being for the Railway Department, was compelled to lay up in Dunedin owing to the inability to get a crew to take her across to. Australia. This represents a big loss to the supplies of coal available in the Dominion, as the subsequent trips of the vessel would have meant an addition ot cargoes of equal quantity. The coal carrier Ngakuta could also have been steadily engaged in the Newcastle trade if it liad been possible to gfet her crew to take her to Australia.

Again, another case in point is that of the Inga, which has been lying at Wanganui for some time now with a quantity of coal still on board. It is true that the waterside workers have taken off 200 tons of this cargo to enable the Wanganui Gas Company to keep going, but they have so far refusced to handle the remaining 900 tons. The Waipori has been laid up two months at Newcastle fully loaded with coal (6500 tons) owing to her inability to get a crew. The Rakanoa is another vessel that would he employed on the Newcastle run were it posible to obtain a crew.

The English Shipping Controller was approached with a view to endeavoring to arrange for all tonnage to bring supplies of coal both from America and Australia en route to New Zealand, but he could not assist “as no tonnage remaining under requisition was available for bringing coal from America and Australia to New Zealand and in the present circumstances it was not . possible to requisition tonnage specially for this purpose.” Notwithstanding the difficulties, said Mr. Myers, every effort is being made to secure all available space for the carriage of coal to New Zealand. Detailed information is given below of shipments at present actually in sight:— FROM NEWCASTLE.

Total 27,937 Grand Total ... ... 67,187 In addition to the above fixtures the following steamers which are at present engaged in New Zealand or on the coast or will he despatched, to Newcastle when the maritime strike is concludedKatoa, Koromiko, Kaitangata, Kuiapoi. AVaitomo, and Rakanoa. Of the quantity at present- in sight from overseas the allocations to railways at present are 59,587 tons.

—Union Steamship Co.’s Vessels. — Approx, due date Vessels. of arrival. Tons W an aka ... ... in port 3200 Kaituna . Aug. 14. 2600 Waipori Aug. 16 2700 Wanaka Aug. 27 3200 Ivanri Aug. 24 4000 „ —Oversea Vessels.— Otira ... Aug. 12 7250 E. M. Stirling ... Aug. 12 4000 Waiwera Aug. 20 900 Essex Aug. 9 3000 Durham Aug. 17 3000 Port Victor Aug. 20 3000 Zealandic Aug 18-20 2000 Total 39,250 —From America.— Mainari Aug. 18 4685 Tropic Aug. 20 6000 Kumara Sept. 8 5000 City of Winchester Sept. 9 3000 Westmeath Aug. 24 4286 Masula ... Aug. 30 4966