SHORTAGE OF COAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14246, 14 March 1917, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF COAL.

XOX-ESSEXTIAL INDUSTRIES TO

BE STOPPED

A very serious position lias arisen m Xew Zealand owing to the shortage of coal and restrictions are to be enforced on the public as soon as details can be perfected.

Last week a deputation' representing

the coal dealers of the Dominion waited on the Minister of Munitions and pointed out the serious effect that ' the coal

shortage threatened to have and asked that the Government take steps to import coal and conserve present stocks. It was pointed out that certain large users of coal for necessary purposes had less ' than a three week?' supply and there were, no propects of filling orders.

Tha 'Railway Department wa-s .said to be short, and most of the- railway bunkers wei*4 quite empty, whilst there was a superabundance of coal hi Australia, for the transport of which there' were no steamers available.

Tii his reply, the Minister stated hiss department would take drastic steps to conserve the coal now on hand by cutting out all non-essential industries, a)l super-

fluous trains (including race and other Lweursion trriins, >7ubmban trains that

are not absolutely necessary) and by curtailing tram and other services which use up coal.

THK POSITION IX NAPJEII

A Telegraph reporter yesterday interviewed Mr C. 11. Kdwardnj manager of the Napier Gas Company, on the coal shortage.

Mr Edwards stated that just at present he was receiving a supply of Newcastle coal, but the outlook was very bad' indeed. "A few days ago," added Mr 'Edwards, "we had les s than a three weeks' supply and there ils very little proapec-t of securing any furthef coal at present." The .shortage, said Mr Edwards, -was general throughout New Zealand, and it would be nece?sary for the Government to take immediate" and effective steps to

check any unnecessary waste of coal. Speaking at the Napier Harbor Board meeting. Mr J. Vigor Brown', M.P.. stated that the Government wa s proposing to take over all stocks, of ooal held by private people. He added that he understood that the position was most acute and therefore the- 1 Board- should hesitate before purchasing another dreijge. *Po'siTlON IN" AUCKLAND. Owing to the coal shortage, several important industries, including the New Zealand Paper Mills, have had to close down. The difficulty is aggravated by the strike at the Hikurangi mines, which are now flooded, and cannpt bo put m working order under a myiftlh.