COAL FOR GAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25052, 16 November 1944, Page 4

COAL FOR GAS

HOLIDAY REQUIREMENTS POSITION IN AUCKLAND A statement that it was necessary for the Auckland Gas Company to have about 7000 tons of coal on hand by Christmas to enable it to carry on through the miners' holiday period was made by the general manager of the company, Mr B. Worley, yesterday. He said the company had no reserves at present. "It is usual at this time of the year for stocks of coal at the gas works to be built up," said Mr Worley. "It is necessary for the company to have 7000 tons of coal in stock on December 24, so that the works will have reasonable prospects of carrying on until coal is once more available after the miners holiday. That should be clone within the next five weeks. At present the company has absolutely no reserve. The supply will have to improve very quickly to make it possible for us to get sufficient stocks." The company was passing through an anxious period at present, said Mr Worley. The Kaimiro, which had 2000 tons of coal for the company, had been held up since Monday by the condition of the bar at Greymouth. About_ 345 tons of coal would be made available todav from the Kartigi and another 200 tons was expected tomorrow from the Kakapo. The company was relying to a considerable extent on the Kaimiro and, even with the coal on hand and the stocks to come from the other two vessels, it would be necessary for the Kaimiro to get away by tomorrow morning if further difficulties were to be avoided. A message from Greymouth late last night stated that the Kaimiro was still held up. The prospects of her leaving today were fair.