COAL SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25473, 1 March 1944, Page 4

COAL SHORTAGE

EFFECT ON INDUSTRY A SERIOUS OUTLOOK (Special) WELLINGTON, Feb. 29. “ For several months now it has been apparent to the members of my council and to the executives of our local manufacturers’ associations that there is every likelihood of a very serious fall in factory production in the coming winter through the shortage of coal, coke, and gas,” said Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, today. “ Such a position would be calamitous both from the viewpoint of war production and of our general national well-being, but I am sorry to say that the situation is quickly becoming more serious. I receive evidence every day of factories which are rapidly using up reserve stocks of coal or which have been warned that their supplies of gas are likely to be short, or which, in the case of foundries and others, have little or no metallurgical coke on hand or in sight. “ The seriousness of the position must have been evident to the Government for months and yet little seems to have been done to build up adequate reserves. Coal as an industrial fuel is still the main source of supply of heat and energy to run our factories and our rail and coastal transport. “The effect of a coal and gas shortage this winter on the general community for domestic purposes would be bad enough. The effect of such a shortage on hospitals, hotels, restaurants generating plants, laundries, and other similar classes of undertakings is obvious. But when there is coupled with these aspects the effect on factory production (canneries, meat works, butter and cheese works, fertiliser works tanneries, foundries, brick and pipe works and hundreds of smaller classes of factories) the picture Decomes alarming. “A state of affairs which has been developing for months cannot be excused by reference to the condition of the Grey mouth and Westport liars or by slips on the Midland line. Many of us are generally sympathetic with the miner in the conditions under which he works, but stoppages of production are inexcusable. Grievances should be dealt with constitutionally and promptly. Where they are justifiable they should be rectified. Where they are unjustified the loss of production is inexcusable, and appropriate and immediate action should be taken. “Parliament is meeting' this week,” Mi- Macdonald concluded. ‘‘As the Cabinet has apparently failed, both to realise the repercussions of lost production, unemployment and increased costs which must result from a coal shortage, and to remedv the position, perhaps Parliament itself can find a solution. Is it too much to suggest that the Address-in-Reply debate should be suspended until steps have been taken to ensure that adequate supplies of coal are made available for domestic and industrial consumers during the next six months? ”