THE SCARCITY OF COAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25850, 22 May 1945, Page 9

THE SCARCITY OF COAL

Sir,—The president and other members of the Housewives’ Association, who wailed on the Mayor to discuss our coal problems last Friday, will, I am sure, have been thrilled at the quality of statesmanship displayed by our local politicians. Mr Neilson informed the deputation that the output of coal had increased, but with characteristic frankness tomitted to add that so had the useless dross for which the housewife had to pay, or that the numbers employed underground in the coal industry had increased by over 500 in the last few years. He also forgot, to mention that, with the exception of Kaitangata and a few other mines, the output per man, per shift, had decreased considerably under Labour’s misrule. It is a wonder the miners do not. strike more often, was another valuable contribution our amateur and docile member made towards supplying a remedy for the shortage, If we take the records of some of our legislators as a guide in war-time, we might well wonder why the miners work at all. Although no speech of Mr Neilson’s would bo complete without his petty gibes at the press, we grow weary of the old tune, that has the sound of a cracked gramophone disc which one hears played far too often by those politicians who are afraid of the truth being published. Mr P. G. Connolly, M.P., ascended to even greater heights of gross stupidity when he claimed that the coal retailers had assured the Government that no one would go without coal, and that it was now up to the coal merchants to honour their pledge and see that everyone got coal. As the miners produce the coal I am afraid Mr Connolly will have a job finding someone silly enough to believe that one. Good as our coal merchants may be, I doubt whether they are capable of repeating the miracle of the bread and fishes by producing coal out of nothing or by making one ton into two. —I am, etc., Matilda.

Sir.—The pathetic appeals of coalless housewives brings home to us the dreadful plight consequent on the coal shortage. For two years the shortage has b’&en continuous and is without any sign of a solution. . In the North Islarid, where there is a rather acute shortage of electric power, the universal sale of electric heaters would not be wise as this would tend to increase the consumption of electricity. As we have elec'ric power here for ordinary requirements, the use of these appliances should be encouraged in Order to relieve the demand for coal. Surely the Government could without delay authorise and demand the manufacture of several thousand moderately priced electric appliances by some renutable firm in order to replenish the exhausted stocks. Such an action is of national importance in view of the coal famine that has been allowed to develop.

Perhaps one of our esteemed local members of Parliament will tell us what steps are now being taken by the Government to alleviate the distress. As it is apparent that the coal supply Is only halt what would be required to maintain an unrestricted railway service and meet Industrial and civilian needs, adequate coal supplies seem a long way off. Our reliable old friend, electricity, is able to help us in our trouble- if we could only harness him. but we lack the necessary appliances. Why?—l am, etc., J. A.

Sir, —In your issue of to-day I see there has been a deputation to the Mayor about the coal shortage. Mrs Fullerton asked would it not be possible to have men directed to the mines. Well, why not? Men are continually being directed here and directed there, artd I am sure if the files of the man-power office were combed one would find sufficient fit miners in other non-essential work who could be directed back to their own jobs. Mr Connolly makes a* statement that the coal retailers assured the Government that no one would go without coal, and he says it is up to the merchants to honour their pledge. Now, Sir, I ask you how in the name of all that is wonderful can a merchant supply something that he does not possess? Another point I would like to stress is that Mr Connolly says the coal that has come to Dunedin is required for essential industry. Well, is it not essential to cook and look after the working man and his dependents in the first place? I think one will find that first, second, and all the time one and all must be fed, and to cook that food one must have coal. —I am, etc., Rusticus. Dunedin, May 19.

Sir, —In your issue of May 19 two items caught my eye and invited my attention. In one I read that the Housewives' Asso- ; ciaticn sent a deputation to the Mayor in regard to the coal situation; in the ; other that Mr Neilson “ wonders the : miners do not strike more often —he , would not go down a mine for anything.” ! Mr Neilscr. would no doubt have us be- ! lieve that the situation of the miners ; is so intolerable that, in pure unselfishness, they maintain virtually a closed union in order that no others may have to take part in such miserable and dangerous toil. But let us face the facts. It Is maintained by many that a miner’s life is one of danger. I find it difficult to believe that it is fraught with as great danger as that cf a man In the fighting forces, and the miner is exempted by reason of his occupation from service in the army. As for the strikes which Mr Neilson condones so sympathetically, I would like to state the cause of a number of fairly recent date, the men refusing : to go to the mine because they had to ! cross a few hundred yards without cover when it was raining. Now, Sir, let us 1 take the case of the average housewife. There is no eight-hour day for her, particularly if she has young children, and no overtime rates of pay for those endless hours she is on her feet. Everyone is considered before her. She is to save others a little extra work at the cost of more for herself, running to (he gate with the milk can, ar.d again to fetch it back, out to the grocer for her bread, cut to the gate again for the mail. She must struggle into crowded tram's, tramp many hundreds of yards, quite often in the rain, collecting the necessary groceries, meat, vegetables, and clothing for her family. She returns, quite often I should imagine in recent weeks, wet from the rain, to find the coal she has been hoping for to warm her house, dry her clothes, and if she has a coal stove cook with, has not arrived again. Perhaps she has a gas s'ove —the announcer on the wireless Informs her that gas is to be rationed, as supplies of coal have not come to hand. No doubt the miners are celebrating Victory or May Day, or just having another strike. But Victory Day or May Day, there were still meals for her -o cook the daily household tasks to be got through. And has one single Minister of the Crown lifted his hat to ner? Goering is credibly reported to have -said. ■■ Whoever starves, it will not be the Germans.” Comparisons are, no dcubt, odious, but I understand that the miners do not go short of coal.—l am, etc.. Less Nonsense. Dunedin, May 21.