SUPPLY OF GAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25217, 1 June 1945, Page 6

SUPPLY OF GAS

SITUATION DOUBTFUL COAL FROM SOUTH SHIPS STILL BARBOUND Although it was expected that there would be gas available for the breakfast period this morning, the situation for the evening meal was by no means certain, said the manager of the Auckland Gas Co., Mr R. Worley, last night. There would again be no supply at lunclitime and the supply this evening was dependent upon the draw-off this morning and the time of arrival of a consignment of coal from New Plymouth which was expected this afternoon. The company could not be responsible for the quality of the gas which would be available between 6 and 8.30 a.m. todav, -Mr Worley continued. There was no coal at all in the No. 1 horizontal, retort house, but the company was still able to use a mixture of lignite and West Coast coal in the No. 2 retort house. This would, however, produce only a limited amount of gas. The 700 tons of coal which was taken from Westport to New Plymouth by the collier Rata and which is expected by rail this afternoon represents about four davs' supply for the company on the basis of a restricted gas service. A few hours will elapse from the tunc ot its arrival at Auckland before its effect will be felt in the supply of gas. There was no further coal in view, apart lrom the cargoes of the Kiwitea and Kartigi, which were still barbound at treymouth, said-Mr Worley. It would take about four days for tlje ships to reach Auckland and discharge their cargoes. MORE STOPWORK MEETINGS THE HUNTLY MINES <O .C.) HUNTLY, Thursday Except for a brief period, all mines at Huntlv worked today including Pukemiro, which had been idle on Wednesday. Stopwork meetings were held this morning, that at the MaeDonald mine occupying two hours and one at Pukemiro an hour. Meetings at Wen Afton, Renown, Rotowaro and Allison were of shorter duration. CARRIAGE BY RAIL WEST COAST TO LYTTELTON ip.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday 1 A scheme by which all coal produced on the West Coast could be hauled to Lytt.elt.on for shipment to the North Island has been completed by the Railway Department, but at present it is not intended to use it unless an absolute emergency arises. Implementation of such a scheme would present a number of difficulties, but these have been fully considered. According to information gathered from various sources, coal could be transported to Canterbury without causing any undue shortage of trucks. It was pointed out. however, that should such a schenie operate it_ would be impossible to bring; big quantities of coal to Canterbury find operate shipping to the West Coast at the same time. This would add tremendously to the cost and would be an uneconomic proposition. But should the supply to the North Island of urgently needed coal be held up because of bar trouble on the West Coast, then expense would be a secondary consideration to the rapid transport of coal. For the smooth running of the department's scheme, a guaranteed rapid turn-round of waggons would be vital and labour shortages at Lyttelton would have to he overcome. ,