SHORTAGE OF COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 14

SHORTAGE OF COAL.

SUPPLY FROM THE WAIKATO. COMPLAINT BY POWER BOARD. It was reported at a meeting of tho Auckland Power Board yesterday that a shortage of Waikato coal was being experienced, and it was stated that mines'' were only working two days a week. The fact that great difficulty had been met with in connection with the supply of coal for the steam generating station at King's Wharf was mentioned by the general manager, Mr. R. 11. Bartley, 111 a report. He stated: "The deliveries have caused us .considerable worry and anxiety, and during the Christmas period we were forced to burn no less than 1000 tons of our reserve of Newcastle coal in order to keep going. This, of course, is being replenished." Mr. Bartley added that the board had communicated daily with lhe mines and the Railway Department, but without avail. If it were not a case of shortage of coa! at the mines it was a question of shortage of trucks on the railway. The position to date was not much better. The mine-owners stated frankly that they were unable at this time of . the year to produce sufficient slack coal for the board's requirements. It was inadvisable to supplement supplies from the board's reserves of Newcastle coal, which cost approximately 42s to 44s on the dumps, plus handling into the board's bunkers. The general manager had, therefore, arranged that the Waikato mines should make up the deficiency with "through" coal—a much cheaper arrangement than using the reserves of Newcastle cosh The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said he understood the. mines were only working two days a week, and that very little slack coal was produced. The summer was always a trying time as far as the mines were concerned, but the position should improve in the winter. The report was adopted.