COAL SHORTAGE IN DUNEDIN

Southland Times, Issue 25679, 23 May 1945, Page 4

COAL SHORTAGE IN DUNEDIN

MAYOR APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT (Special). DUNEDIN, May 22. Action has been taken by the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) with a view to alleviating the desperate position in which many householders find themselves because of the shortage of coal. Mr Cameron has been inundated with requests ' over the telephone and by citizens in person seeking some means of obtaining relief. The Mayor today sent, the following telegram to the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones), the acting Minister of Mines (Mr O’Brien) and the Controller of Mines (Mr Benney):—

“I received a deputation from the Housewives’ Union. Also present were Mr P. Neilson, M.P., and Mr P. G. Connolly, M.P. The deputation made a strong case for supplies of domestic coal. I discussed the position today with the coal merchants, who are doing their utmost to supply from ttte small quantities arriving and have orders unfulfilled extending over four weeks. On behalf of all citizens I make an urgent appeal for immediate supplies of domestic coal, as there are many

homes requiring coal urgently.

“No additional stocks have been received from Southland,” said the President of the Dunedin Coal Merchants’ Union (Mr D. R. Wilson). “The coal merchants are still four weeks in arrears with orders, and at present they are dealing with orders received on April 30.” With the small supplies of coal arriving in Dunedin, he added, it would take the best part of the present week to complete delivery of these orders, and a start would be made next week with the delivery of orders received on May 1 and so on in rotation, unless the supply position materially improved.