SHORTAGE OF COAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 22

SHORTAGE OF COAL

ECONOMY ADVOCATED LOCALLY. There is evidently a shortage just now in all classes of. coal. The stock of Newcastle coal is practically exhausted, and the prospect of any coming coal is not to bo had in any quantity, the reason being that peace celebrations, influenza, and Christmas and New Year holidays have-interfered' with the output very materially. One coal merchant says: "This will be the worst year for the coal trade' whole history of New Zealand." The shortage is not due to any "hoarding" of stock on the part of the coal merchant. He cannot get supplies, and has to meet his customers as best he can. A merchant remarked that it was no use consumers. expecting to get a ton or even half a ton offhand; it was a question of a few bags at a time to tide customers over their immediate wants. A look at some of tho yards shows this to bo true, to say nothing of indignant remonstrances from disappointed customers, who expect the impossible. The greatest consumption of coal takes place on the railways, and one reason given for the present shortage is that owing to a scarcity of Newcastle coal there has been an increased demand for the local article, which, of course, lessens the supply for the ordinary consumer. Another reason for the shortage is that the summer has, so far, been so cold that fires have had to bo kept going almost continuously, and the consumption has been greater than usual. However, the position here is not as aouto as in other places, where it is regarded as "critical." Here it is sufficiently serious to demand economy. So far as can bo ascertained it is the railways, concerns engaged in the manufacture of. gas, and steam shipping companies that are likely to be most seriously affected. Households will suffer too, but only to a modified extent. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S DIFFICULTY. WELLINGTON, January 7. The Railway Department has never been so short of coal as it is to-day. The holdup of steamers at Newcastle has cut off many thousand of tons _ which the department had hoped to receive during the past two months. At the same time the New Zealand output has been far below the normal, by reason of the stoppage of operations during the epidemic for about three weeks, and in the Christmas holidays for about a fortnight. It is expected that, unless the coal supply improves quickly, the department will .be obliged to make some cuts in the train services.