COAL POSITION IN CITY

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

COAL POSITION IN CITY

Acute Shortage At Present SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR RAILWAYS “The people of Invercargill, who in the past have been more fortunate with coal supplies than those in other centres, must now realize that coal is today probably the scarcest commodity they require,” said an Invercargill merchant yesterday when asked about the coal position in the city. For some months past, he said, the railways had commandeered from the majority of the mines at Ohai more than 2000 tons a week. This represented as much as 60 per cent, of the total production of domestic coal of some mines. Early last week instructions were received that because of the acute position of railway supplies, all household coal from the mines at Ohai was to go to the railways. No supplies were received by city merchants last week. The position generally with merchants before last week was that they were two to three weeks behind with deliveries. Last week’s commandeer made the position much more acute, and customers could not possibly obtain supplies from merchants at short notice. The majority of the merchants had been forced to ration coal very severely; in some cases only one bag was being delivered at a time. The reduction in the weight of bags from 1901 b to 1401 b had caused a slowing down of deliveries.

OPEN-CAST MINE The open-cast mine operated by the Government was expected to produce a considerable quantity of coal a week, and this, it was understood, would go to the railways. When the railway supply position became less acute, it was likely that supplies from the other mines would be available for domestic purposes. But it was not thought that any early relief could be expected. It was pointed out that the position had been further aggravated by one mine practically ceasing production. The position of coal supplies for farmers was also acute, said the merchant. One company’s ■orders for farmers were at present 12 months behind. Farmers, therefore, could not expect truck loads of coal at short notice. He expressed the opinion that the general supply position could not be expected to improve until there was a further easing in the railways’ requirements.