COAL SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25940, 5 September 1945, Page 6

COAL SHORTAGE

AUCKLAND UNDERTAKINGS PRECARIOUS SUPPLY POSITION (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 4. Many of the undertakings in Auckland which depend on coal are in a precarious position at present owing to the inability to obtain coal. They are operating on a margin which is not considered safe for undertakings which have to serve the public on a large scale. Although Government statements this year have placed an optimistic complexion on the future of the coal supply, the position seems to have deteriorated greatly. Transport services such as the railways and the Devonport Steam Ferry Company have just enough to maintain their operations, and some other industries are also living on a hand-to-mouth basis. The position for householders is slightly better than it was a few months ago. Railway Stocks Low Inquiries to-day revealed that the railway depots in the area north of Taihape each had about a third of a week’s supply of coal. At one stage in Auckland recently the railway coalsupplies were so low that only the arrival of a coal boat from the south staved off serious difficulties. Had supplies been delayed for any length of time, it is possible that the railway services would have had .to t> e cur " tailed. . .. , .Ministerial statements in the past indicated that open-cast mining would do a great deal to solve the coal difficulties, but it is understood that only a small percentage of the coal received by the railways, in Auckland is from open-cast operations. The experience of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company is that the coal shortage has never been worse. After the vessels had been bunkered two weeks ago there were only three tons of coal left over, and last week there were only two tons left. Two years ago the company maintained a reserve of 2000 tons, which was considered to he a proper reserve. It was stated that the service could be maintained for three days on the boats bunker capacity, but, apart from that, the company had no margin to work on. A Slender Margin The Auckland Gas Company has now about 15 days’ supply, but on Monday night the position was reached where for several hours there was no coal in the horizontal retort house at the gas works. Full holders enabled the service to be maintained, but the gas company has also been operating on a slender margin for a considerable time. • The experiences of the railways and the ferry company have been shared recently by many other industries. Dairy companies in the Waikato were stated to be operating with meagre supplies.