COAL SUPPLIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10903, 18 May 1921, Page 7

COAL SUPPLIES

EXPLANATION & WARNING

COXTKOIA.BR OX RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS. OUTLOOK MORE FAVOURABLE. 4 The Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister in .Charge of the Coal Trade* Regulations) issued for publication yesterday a statement prepared by the Coal Controller, with a view to clearing up certain misapprehensions with regard to our coal supplies, Going back, for purposes of comparison, to 3914, when conditions wore normal in respect to the production and importation of coal, and when- supplies fully met all requirements, and enabled reserve stocks to be carried, the Coal Controller points out that whereas the total output of coal from the dominion amounted to 2,375,593 tons in 1914, in 1920 (the latest complied figures) the outputs had dropped to 1,841,705 tens—a decrease of 433,888 tons, equal to .19.07 ner cent. Importations on the other hand, which amounted to 518,070 tons in 1914. reached a total of 647,077 tone last year, an increase of 129,007 over 1914, or 25 per cent. The net result, taking the combined outputs and importations, and again , comparing the years 1914 and 1920 respectively, is a decrease of 304,881 tons, or 11 per cent. In order, however, to arrive at the true position as affecting the key industries and main services of th * Dominion, which are dependent on bituminous coal for maintaining their activities, it is necessary to analyse the outputs of the New Zealand mines in order to determine the production under the three headings: viz., bituminous and semi-bituminous, brown, and lignite, which the Dominion’s output of coal is classified. This is done in a table in which -iff is shown that in 1914 the total output of the New Zealand mines was 2,275,593 tons, made up of 1.494,313 tons bituminous or semi-bitu-minous, 691,367 tons brown, 89,933 tons lignite. In addition to this 518.070 tons of coal was imported in 3914. bringing th* total for the year to 2,793,663 tons. The 3920 figures show the total coal from New Zealand mine* as 1.841.705 tons, made up of 923,575 tons bituminous or semi-bituminous, 733,709 tons brown, and 204,421 tons lignite. In addition there was imported in 1920 647,077 tons, bringing the total available to 2,488.782 tons. FALL IN BITUMINOUS COAL. With the exception of the year 1916 which exceeded the previous year’s output by 17,674 tons, there has been a 6teady decline in the output of bituminous coal right up to 1920, when the lowest output for the seven-yearly period was recorded—a decrease when compared with 1914 of 570,738 tons, or 38.19 per cent. As railways, shipping, gas and freezing works, and most of the public services depend entirely on this class of coal for carrying on their activities, the difficulties that have been contended with during the last few years in making suitable provision for the carrying on of the activities mentioned will be readily recognised, more especially when it is remembered that there has been a considerable increase in the con--Bpxnption of coal by the services mentioned as compared with 3914. It is submitted, therefore, that the position disclosed by the figures offiectivelv answers the criticisms that have recently appeared in the public Press concerning a. surplus of this class of coal available ?in the Dominion. Indeed, it will be seen at a glance that had it not been for the very large increase in importations that lias taken' place during the last two Toars, and especially daring 1920—due largely to the action of the Railway XJepßrtment m arranging for cargoes of loreign coal to supplement local and An, trahan supplies—it would have been impossible to have curried on in full the services mentioned. INCREASE! IN LIGNITE! On the other hand, during the period under auction, there has been a very increase in * the production of lignite coals, principally in Otago and Southland, the figures in this connection showing an increase last year of 114,508 over 1914—127 per cent. This olass of coal is quite unsuitable for use m connection with the services enumerated, and is used , chiefly for domestic and other local requirements in the districts where the mines are situated, although a fairly large quantity of the better class lignite and brown coals are railed into Canterbury as far as Christchurch for use in conjunction with har l koala for * household purposes and by small steaming plants. These coals, however, are quite unsuitable for transport by sea, apart altogether from the fact that the -price quoted fQr delivery, c.i.f., Wellington is in excess of that of the best West Coast for a class of coal quite unsuitable for many purposes. Moreover, shipments would -be landed' in such a condition, owing to the extremely friable nature of lignites, as to render the coal of little market value for any purpose. There is nothing, however, in the coal-trade regulations to prevent merchants here arranging for supplies of this class of- coal from Otago and Southland if they desire to do so, and the Coal Control Office will facilitate the arrangements in every possible way. THU SHIPPING HOLD-UP. Having dealt with the eastern of control under which dealers in southern districts' are compelled to m.tr large quantities of lignite with their orders, thus making available more hard coal for the North Island, the controller states with' regard to the suggestion that certain southern districts are well supplied with bituminous coal, as compared with Wellington, that during the recent ship-' ping hold-up in Wellington several shipments of West Coast coal intended for Wellington and other, places-in the North Island had to be diverted to South Island ports. In respect to the limitation of quantities for domestic use here, it must be remembered that Wellington is placed unfavourably when compared with the other chief centres, owing to the fact that practically all its supplies are seaborne. Delays to steamers, especially at this time of the year, are frequent, owing to the bars at Westport and Greymouth being unworkable for varying periods.

Then, again, supplies by sea. are subjected to frequent interruption owing to bad weather, labour disputes, and other delays incidental to shipping. livery effort ‘has been made by the local Coal-trade Committee to provide adequate supplies of coal for retail purposes. and, in order to assure even the smallest householder having equal opportunities of obtaining coal with larger it has been found necessarv from time to time to strictly limit the quantity for delivery to any one customer. In the other centres, owing to the favourable conditions in. regard to local supplies of coal, such severe restrictions have not been found necessary, and quantities not exceeding 10 cwt. in any one delivery or one ton in a period of 28 days may be delivered without permit. The local Coal-trade Committees, however, c«in at their discretion, issue permits in excess of the quantities niGtitioned, providing they are satisfied that the position of supplies warrants same. IMPORTATION FREE. A suggestion has been made that tbe operation of coal control is in some way retarding the importation of coal, but such is not the case. There are no reetructions of any kind on the importation of coal into the Dominion by,any person or firm. The local coal-trad© committees, on arrival of any shipment, require that it shall be distributed under Tvermit in order to ensure equitable distribution in the interests of all users, but apart from this there is no interference of any kind with the ordinary relationships as between the buyer and the seller. Although there are restrictions of any kind regarding the importation of coal into the Dominion at. this end, there is, however, a control exercised by the Commonwealth authorities over the export of Maitland coal from Newcastle, and New Zealand, steamers only receive permits after inter-Sbate shipping, has received its full requirements. Consequently, New Zealand steamers are being subjected"to verv long delays at Newcastle; in some recent oases steamers have been delayed over a month i awaiting their turn to load, and inqtiiries made there lately indicate that, owing to the extreme shortage of coal In Victoria and Rormth Australia, the of obtaining supnlies of the best Maitland coal during the present winter are anything but bright. MORE FAVOURABLE THIS YEAR. A dispassionate survey of the whole position, the statement claims, shows that the present situation and the immediate prospects for the future in regard 'to hard coals does not warrant aqy relaxation of the present restrictions, if our primary industries and main services are to be fully maintained and tbe interests of all users of coal protected adequately. It is satisfactory to be able to state, however, that notwithefcanding the very large decrease in the outputs of the principal West Coast mines and the fact that the figures for the first three, months of the current year show a decline when compared with the same period last year that with the increase that has '"taken place in importations during the year ended December 31st last, the position of most of our industries and services, excepting perhaps gasworks ds much more favourable than for the corresponding period last year as regards steam coal, and as there are indications at the present time of a decrease, urnfortnmateayj in the volume of trade in the Dominion, the demand for hard coal in some directions may possibly be less than was the case at this time last year, and may permit later on of a moTe liberal allocation for domestic use. It is hoped within the next few weeks to bring larger supplies of coal to Wellington, as, owing tq the recent bad weather delaying shinments, this port has been poorly supplied. USE MORE FIREWOOD. The Coal Controller submits, in conclusion, that, while the general position is fortunately somewhat easier than has been the case for some time past, the need for care and economy in the use of hard coal still exists, if unemployment as the result of dislocation to our main industries and public services is to be avoided; but it is felt that if reasonable economy in the consumption of coal is exercised, and full use made of good firewood in the homes, then no undue hardship will be experienced in regard to fuel during the present winter.