AUCKLAND COAL SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17230, 5 August 1919, Page 8

AUCKLAND COAL SUPPLY.

1 'fl - l ■ r. i. POSITION STILL ACUTE. GAS AND TRAMWAY STOCKS. I There-Bsemsi to be 0 immediate prospect of an improvement in the position brought about by the serious coal shortage, which has hampered the industries of the city and province. for the last few weeks. Inquiries made yesterday disclosed the fact that most of the large concerns dependent on coal were just able to keep going, while some of them were so placed that the managers expressed the opinion that any farther reduction of supplies would necessitate closing. The stocks held by the Gas Company were very low yesterday afternoon; but the gravify of 4he situation, was relieved by.the knowledge that the collier Katoa, wjjich is duo this morning, is bringing 1600 tons of cos! from Westport for the company. This is sufficient to keep the gasworks going for about six days, but as the company has no further shipments definitely in sight, the position is regarded as anything but satisfactory. Tramway officials stated yesterday that the position was still. comparatively satisfactory, and would continue'so while supplies of Waikato coal came regularly to baud. The stocks held for the tramway power-house yesterday totalled approximately 1000 tons, and it was estimated that this, with the additional supplies on the rail, would suffice for close on two weeks. Waikato slack is generally used, and the practice is to keep a month's supply on hand. In normal times, as an ; additional safeguard, a supply of about 2000 tons of Newcastle or Southern coal is stocked, but this reserve has lonw been used up. The demand for household coal still continues, and retail dealers state that thev are all behind with their- orders, the quantity available for domestic purposes being not nearly sufficient for requiremenu. The practice of limiting orders to Ocwt continues, but even with this small quantity the coal has often to be delivered in three or four lots, sometimes a bag at a time, as the fuel comes to hand. While local coa.ff are abnormally short the New castle and West port coals are especiallyscarce. Dealers see some consolation in he fact that the cold reason is comiiS to an end, with a possible slackening off in the demand for domestic coal Many housewives are using wood fuel and stocks sent m from the country disnets are eagerly looked for. In const qurnce of the demand, many men have ound profitable employment cuttL titree and transporting it to points 0 n the railway and rivers of the province from ' and th Z to Auckland arm the provincial towns.