N.Z. COAL SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1943, Page 6

N.Z. COAL SHORTAGE

Big Rise in Demand WEST COAST HARBOUR PROBLEM. PA. WELLINGTON, June 1?. Largely increased demands on New Zealand’s coal production were stressed bv the Minister of Mines, Hon. P. C. Webb, when answering urgent questions by Mrs C. C. S. Stewart (Govt., Wellington East), when the House met at 2.30 to-day. Mrs Stewart had drawn attention in her question to an extreme shortage ■of domestic coal in Wellington. The Minister stated that, since 1936. the following increases in consumption of coal had taken place:—For gas, thirty per cent.; for electric power, 862 per cent.; for the railways, fifty per cent.; for butter and cheese factories. thirteen per cent.; for meat freezing, forty-four per centß for lime .and cement works, sixty-one per cent.; for miscellaneous industries, eighty-three per cent. In addition, .said Mr Webb, there was approximately one hundred thousand tons of additional coal required for military camps, hospitals and institutions. He also referred to the difficulties of getting coal from Australia. He added that bad working conditions at the Westport and Greymouth harbours had been responsible for a loss of over thirty thousand tons of coal since Christmas, The main difficulty, now, stated the Minister, was not the matter of pro-, duction, but that of transport; but if the transport difficulties could be overcome, an early improvement m the co.al position could reasonably be expected.