THE COAL SHORTAGE

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 6

THE COAL SHORTAGE

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 16. A deputation representative of the sawmilling industry waited upon the- Prime Minister and, the Minister of Railways to urge upon them the seriousness of the position of the industry owing to the curtailment of the railway service. The deputation was introduced by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands and Mr W. H. Field, M.P. Stress was laid on the fact that the deputation was not there to find fault but to offer to lend all possible, assistance to the Government in the difficult situation which had arisen. Mr Field said that there was an impression abroad that the trouble was due not only to the coal crisis but to the fact that the railway rolling stock was out of repair and unfit to cope with haulage requirements.

The -principal speaker was Mr W. J. Butler, president of the New Zealand Sawmilling Association, and. other speakers were Mr Bush, representing the Main Trunk millers, and Mr Campbell, representing Otago and Southland. It was pointed out that the millers were setting up committees in their various districts to deal with the situation as far as possible and a meeting was to be held in a days to decide whether the mills should close down or not. The millers bad been keeping their men on and stacking timber, but space.had become exhausted and unless some relief was obtained soon there would be no alternative but to close down. On the Main Trunk line alone over 2000 men were employed. Half of them were married and if they were to be thrown out of work it would be a disaster. Stress was also laid on the urgent demand for timber for buildings for returned soldiers and others throughout the dominion and it was pointed out that the cessation of supplies was seriously affecting building throughout the country. The millers offered to supply free of cost rata, matai, maire and tawa firewood for firing the railway engines. The Prime Minister in reply assured the deputation of the Government’s desire to restore the carriage of timber at the earliest possible moment and said that when the Australian strike was settled, which he hoped would be in a few days, the Government would resume timber haulage. He was hopeful that they would not have to wait many days. Mr Massey also assured the deputation that the rolling stock was in very good order and the reason so many waggons were now in workshops was that advantage was being taken by the Department of the reduced service to see that the rolling stock was put in thorough repair. Mr Herries also said that the want of coal was the sole reason for the curtailment and that the position was largely due to the epidemic and strike in Australia. Firewood, he had been informed, could not be used without an alteration to the engine boxes, but he would look further into this matter. He thanked the millers for their generous and helpful attitude throughout.