COAL SUPPLIES
NO SHORTAGE ANTICIPATED WEST COAST OUTPUT AFFECTED BY WEATHER AND INFLUENZA . ' (From Our , Parliamentary Reporter; WELLINGTON, July 11. “ We do not anticipate any serious shortage of household coal and with reasonably good weather on the West Coast to enable the shipping of gas-producing coal we should soon make up any leeway in that respect,” said the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb) in an interview to-day following a conference with representatives of the Coal Owners’ Federation and the Mine Workers’ Federation. The Minister said the whole question of coal supplies both from the points of view of household and gas requirements had been discussed. “ The situation nationally with regard to household coal has improved,” Mr Webb said, “ and we do not anticipate a shortage that would cause any real inconvenience to the public. The Wellington market should improve with the better weather conditions on the coast. Much of the delav in sending forward supplies has been caused through the influenza epidemic, involving greatly reduced production, and also by bad shipping facilities at Greymouth and Westport, where the weather has affected the working capacity of the ports. The coal companies feel confident that they will be able to supply enough coal to meet all requirements.” Speaking of the position of the gas industry the Minister said that practically the whole of the gasproducing coal came from the West Coast, and the bad bar conditions experienced lately had seriously affected the output from those mines. Given reasonably good weather, however, it should not be long before the leeway was made up. The necessity for maintaining the maximum supply of bituminous coal to gasworks became more important when it was realised that every ton of overseas coal ate into the external credit of the Dominion.
“ The question cf housing accommodation for miners was also discussed,” Mr Webb said, “ and that will be looked into by the companies affected.”
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 14
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318COAL SUPPLIES Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 14
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