GOAL SUPPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10640, 13 July 1920, Page 5

GOAL SUPPLIES

POSITION AT PETONE. The gas manager (Mr H. Appleyard) in his report to tho Peitonp Council last night, stated/ that the month of Juno was tho worst .yet experienced with regard to the supply of coal for gasmaking purposes. Each week the stocks had been, so depleted that barely sufficient remained to tide over tho week-ends when further supplies had come to hand. Out of one shipment from which Pctono was allocated 100 tons, only 30 tons were received, the reason for the shortage being that tho Coal Trade Committee had been unable to secure a sufficiency of railway trucks to transport the coal to Petone. On Friday, Juno 18th. there was no coal at the works, and hurried arrangements had to 1m marie to secure a supplv from tho State Coal Depot to keep going. “Tho position appeared to ho getting worse each, week,’* said the gas manager. “Representations to tho Coal Trade Committee for more even supplies are of no avail, nndl this, together with tho shortage of household requirements, and the consequent increased demand for gas. makes it very difficult to keep up with the consumption. Any Newcastle coal available, of which the council _is to compelled _ to take certain quantities, is of very high price, and tho indications are that the council will have to pay still higher prices for future lots.-”