CITY'S CHIEF SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 6

CITY'S CHIEF SERVICES.

ELECTRIC CURRENT SUPPLY,

: DiNGER OF CESSATION.

TRAMS MAY STOP SHORTLY. There -will be no supply of electricity for lighting and power from the city station after to-morrow evening unless further quantities of coal can be procured in the meantime by the CSjy Council. If the railway strike continues that contingency is very . remote. The shortage of coal, iaorebver, due to the cessation of supplies from HuntlV, nffects. the running of the trams, and a curtalmant of the service has already been renaered necessary. Explaining the situation vesterday, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated that the position at the city electrical station -was- very serious. The stock of coal was now .down to two days' supply. That was accounted for by the fact, that no coal hod been forthcoming during the holidays in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales, and the small reserves were already being eaten into. Wi\'> the exception of a little coal now on the railway for the council, there was none in sight, and the 'consignment referred to could not be obtained, of course, while the strike-lasted. This meant that, unless a change in the position took place in the meantime, the electrical station would have to be closed down to-morrow evening. The Mayor added that the council had •already had to discontinue the supply of ejeetrio current to the tramways from the city station, in consequence of which the tram services must immediately suffer to some extent. Th& trams could be kept roaming a little longer than the electric power station, as the stock of coal an th* -tramways power-house was slightly larger than that of the other undertaking. It was hopeless to think of transferring fuel from one service to the other, the aggregate quantity available being in anv case small. Such transference would not help thejatuafcion, moreover. No hops whatever of the tramways services being increased in order to help to carry, into the. city the suburban passenger traffic deprived of railway transit, could be held out; by Mr. Gunson. On the contrary, bs emphasised the fact that the tramway services would have to be curtailed, owing to the undertaking having to depend now entirely on the tramway power-house supplies of coal and electric current. There was no doubt that by the end of the week he said, a most serious position would have overtaken the city unless further coal supplies had been obtained. Overseas coaT would serve, but none could be procured so far as could be seen.

The Mayor said he had been asked to tail a meeting of the business community to discuss the situation. He had telegraphed to the Prime Minister, acquainting him of the fact, and asking him what the position was as regards the pav of the railway-men. and the offers of the Goveminent. In the meantime he was not coming to any decision regarding *he suggested meeting. Asked as to the' probable attitude of the local tramwaymen in the event of the strike spreading, Mr. Gn.isoa said that he had no reason to believe that the railway trouble would disturb the negotiations which were still proceeding between the council and the men in connection with the new agreement. The relating between the council and the tramway em-ployees-were at present quite good.