FUEL FOR RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20893, 8 June 1931, Page 11

FUEL FOR RAILWAYS.

ORDERS NOT FULFILLED.

INSUFFICIENT DELIVERIES

MINISTER QUOTES INSTANCES,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON. Saturday. When the Prime Minister recently told a deputation of •coalm:ners' representatives tftat the Government had been forced to import coal because railway stocks were being depleted and New Zealand miners had failed to givo the required deliveries, his figures were challenged. The I'rime Minister undertook thai further details would bo given by the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Railways, and Mr. Veitch has issued the following statement: — "I have carefully pel used the notes taken at a deputation of the United Mine Workers' Federation and Alliance of Labour which waited upon the Prime Minister. The position outlined in my telegram to tho Prime Minister, and which was read at the deputation, sets out the position so far as the Railway Department is concerned. In that telegram I stated, inter alia: 'Arrangements were made for increased supplies from New Zealand mines producing coal suitable for storage. Had the additional supplies arranged for in this way been forthcoming it would not havo been necessary to import., but, unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, New Zealand mines have not been able to deliver in sufficient quantities coal for storage to overtake the shortage of reserve supplies.' Instances of Failure. "As several speakers at the deputation doubted the veracity of this statement, I desire to quote a number of instances where mines have failed to supply the quantity of coal which we ordered:— "Dobson Mine.—The order now stands at 1600 tons a week, having been temporarily increased to this quantity in Apr:l, but so far the supply a week has averaged only 775 tons. I have been since advised that this mine will shortly be in a position to meet our order. "Brunner Mine.—This mine has a temporary o'-der of 1595 tons a week, but its average supply since April 13 has been 71.0 toils .i week, and the secretary advises that not more than 850 tons a week can be guaranteed. "Liverpool State Mine.—This mine has an order for 500 tons a week, but, its average supply under this order has been <OO tons a week. This mine was closed for two weeks on account of a dispute between the miners and mine enginedrivers. "Grey Point, Elizabeth Co-operative Coal Mines. —These mines have had orders totalling 1020 tons a week, but they have fallen short in deliveries, the average weeklv supply being 370 tons. Unscreened Coal Taken. "Briandale Mine.—This m;ne has an order for 820 tons a week, but is unable to guarantee more than 350 tons a week at the present time, but may be in a position to increase this to 500 tons a week in about six weeks' time. "Westport-Stockton Mine.—This mine has an order temporarily increased from 800 to 1200 tons screened coal a week, and up to May 23 had delivered this quantity. However, owing to the loss of certain orders for slack and screened coal (including that from the Golden Bay Cement Company, which has temporarily suspended operations) and the dearth of ships' bunkering orders, the mine will have difficulty in providing screened coal to meet the department's orders. As a matter of fact, much against the department's wish, we took a quantity of unscreened coal from this company in an endeavour to assist them in their difficulty. "Cascade Mine. —This mine is still out of action, and it will be some timo yet before the order for 1000 tons can be supplied. It is proposed to let the order remain, as when the mine reopens it is not likely to be delivered at a greater rate than 100 tons a week. No Increase In Stocks. "I say that, with a view to building up our stocks of coal, we substantially increased our orders on New Zealand mines on March 18 and again on March 30. Nevertheless, by the end of April there was no increase in our stocks. It is of interest in this connection to note that even up to May 23 the increase in stocks amounted to only 4000 tons, which is little more than half-a-week's consumption. It was, therefore, apparent to me that some prompt action was necessary in order that the department's reserve stock of coal for storage purposes should be built up. and as the prospect of obtaining sufficient coal from New Zealand mines was not satisfactory, I was reluctantly compelled to place an order for 40,000 tons of coal from Australia. "I wish to repeat that the department will continue to take New Zealand coal, and so long as the mines are able to fully meet our requirements from time to time, there will he no necessity to resort to importations in the future."