The Southland Times THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1945. The Shortage of Coal

Southland Times, Issue 25680, 24 May 1945, Page 4

The Southland Times THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1945. The Shortage of Coal

rpOWARDS the end of February t the. Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, declared that the coal position was favourable. ‘Tf production continues as at present,” he said, “the supplies for the winter months will meet both domestic and industrial demands.” Since then there have been no more than the usual number of stoppages in the mines, and it seems probable that production has been maintained. But winter is here, and the position is not favourable. On the contrary, it is worse than it has ever been before. It is so bad in Dunedin that the Mayor of the city has sent telegrams to Wellington, asking if something cannot be done to alleviate the “desperate position” in which many householders eye finding themselves. In the North Island the shortage is equally acute, and gas consumers have been told to expect a reduced supply. Householders in Invercargill have managed to scrape through so far; but orders are being delivered tardily, and in small quantities. The coal merchants have to make at least two trips to deliver half a ton. Only in this way can they ration the slender stocks available; but the method is uneconomic from their point of view, and unsatisfactory for customers, many of whom are reduced to empty bins before two bags arrive instead of the expected six. If the difficulties are increasing so early in the winter, the outlook for the hardest part of the season, still to come, is less than promising. And people are asking how much longer this state of affairs must continue. Further, they are finding it hard to understand why the position has steadily deteriorated. They have been told repeatedly that the production of coal has reached record figures. Early in March Mr Webb announced that the total output for 1944 was 2,802,256 tons —nearly 20 per cent, above the figures for 1939. Open-cast mines were said to be producing 2000 tons a day. It is true that imports of high-grade coal from Newcastle have been drastically reduced. According to the Mines Statement for 1944, this was the major cause of all our difficulties. “Had our normal imports of approximately 100,000 tons . . . still been available,” said the statement, “there would have been no necessity for restrictions of the railway services, nor would there have been any deficiencies in gas-supply. These imports are fundamental to our whole coal-supply position.” Nevertheless, 90,865 tons were imported in 1942, and 37,454 tons in 1943. We do not know what quantity, if any, was imported last year; but it can at least be said that imports throughout the war years have not leased completely. Even if no coal came last year from Newcastle, the 100,000 tons lost in that way would have been replaced nearly five times by the additional production within New Zealand. ' Invisible Surplus

There is, of course, the question of quality. If low-grade coals are being used for the railways, greater quantities are needed to obtain normal results. It must be conceded also that, in spite of restricted passenger services, the railways have been carrying a heavy wartime traffic. For the year ended March 31, 1944, engine mileage was 21,095,680, compared with 18,199,622 in 1940. The consumption of coal in the same period showed an increase of nearly 29 per cent. This heavier traffic was caused by the reduction of motor transport, the centralization of shipping (requiring longer haulages) and the movement of troops and military equipment. Some of these factors are still in full operation; but others have become less important. The demands of the armed forces, for instance, must be lighter today than at any time since 1940. When all these facts are considered, it remains difficult to understand why, if coal production is 20 per cent, higher than in 1939, the general supply position should continue to deteriorate. The total purchases of New Zealand coal by the railways for the year ended March 31, 1944, amounted to 615,000 tons. If these figures can be taken as a fair indication of requirements throughout 1944, and if they are subtracted from the total production for that year, the quantity remaining for industrial and household consumption would have been 2,187,256 tons. The output in 1939 was 3,342,639 tons, out of which about 400,000 tons would be set aside for the railways. Thus, New Zealand now has more coal available for industries and homes than in 1939. But who heard of a coal shortage before the war? Why is it that in those days there were ample reserves, in spite of strikes and stoppages? To what purpose is the invisible surplus being devoted? It is probably true that more coal is being used today for industry, either directly, or in the generation of electricity, especially in the North Island. If the Dominion must have new secondary industries, power must be found for them somewhere. There are many people who would prefer to buy cheaper godds from overseas—especially if, at the same time, they could have ample supplies of coal for household usage. But these are obscure problems. So many factors are involved that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get at the truth. It can be said in the meantime, however, that a point has been reached where impressive figures about coal production are being received with scepticism. Coal in the bin is a stronger argument than any which has yet been .put forward in Wellington; and the bins are almost empty.

YOUNG PIANIST’S SUCCESS.— At the Christchurch competitions festival Miss Norma Dyer, late of Bourke street, North Invercargill, was the winner of the Sidley Wells pianoforte scholarship, open to competitors aged 11 and under 13. She is 11 years old and .is a pupil of St. Mary’s Convent, Christchurch.