STOCK COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 6

STOCK COAL

ADVICE TO PUBLIC NEEDS OF THE WINTER INCREASE IN PRODUCTION [by telegraph—press association] WELLINGTON, Saturday Returns from tho principal collieries for November showed an increase of 22,000 tons in the production of coal compared with tho same month last rear said tho Minister of Mines, the Hon. F. C. "\Vcbb,_Jn an interview tonight. For tho first 11 months of the calendar year production was 182.000 tons ahead of the same period in 1939. "It is evident now," .said Mr. "Webb, "that the output of coal for 1910 will exceed 2.500,000 tons, and, given normal conditions between now and Christmas, there is every likelihood that the total production for this year will, set a new record. "This is a fine achievement, especially in view of the bad start during the first three months of the year, but it would be a grave mistake for consumers, both industrial and domestic, to be lulled into a sense of false security in respect of coal supplies. Because of increased production there has been a rapid increase in coal consumption during the past few years, and it is quite clear that next year even greater quantities will be needed. '■My advice to the public, therefore, is to take coal into stock whenever opportunity offers, because even now we are faced with problems of distribution which are not likely to be solved for some time. There is no need whatever for panic buying, but to lay in stocks for the winter would be a wise precaution."