AUCKLAND GAS

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 2

AUCKLAND GAS

Coal Shortage SHIPS DIVERTED TO SAVE FREIGHTER. P.A. AUCKLAND, July 4. The necessity for maintaining an adequate reserve of coal in Auckland to meet such contingencies as have brought about the present gas restrictions, was stressed by the Manager of the Auckland Gas. Company, Mr. Rupert Worley. The public will be interested to know that any .inconvenience they are suffering through the shortage of gas is due to the fact that three coal boats had to be diverted from their course when the overseas ship went ashore near North Cape, recently,” said Mr. Worley. “Had that ship not gone ashore, the public of Auckland would not be suffering the restrictions which have had to be imposed upon them. The existing situation and the recurrent trouble on West Coast bars only emphasise the- necessity for keeping a considerable reserve of coal in Auckland,” said Mr. Worley. “When the Gas Company was master of its own destinies in- peace time, it alwayskept a minimum of 10,000 tons to .guard against such eventualities as have recently occurred. Since the Government took over control of the coal supplies, we have not been able to keep more than about 4,000 tons ps a maximum stock, and it has frequently gone as low as 1,000 tons. This is ridiculously small in view of the fact that the authorities know that trouble might occur on the West Coast/at any time.”