THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1308, 23 April 1918, Page 8

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

A RUSH OF CUSTOMERS. 6CENE AT THE STATE OFFICE. That the public appreciate the seriousness of the coal shortage was amply evidenced to-day, when the State Coal Office in the.Government Buildings was besieged from an early hour by a large crowd 01, anxious householders. The prospect of facing the sharp, frosty evenings and early mornings in a house bereft of warmth is unpleasant—to say the least of it—and the anxiety of the consumers to secure even the solitary bag allowed to each purchaser can. be understood. From the hour of opening this morning the office was crowded, and by about 10 o'clock there were assembled about 80 people, who overflowed into the main entrance of the buildings in Worcester Street. The single clerk behind the counter had a strenuous time taking names and addresses for orders of one bag at a time, and during the morning rush a late-comer could count on having to wait for an hour or - longer before he could breast the counter. The crowd consisted mainly of women, some of them with children, and nearly all with parcels and baskets, which made themselves felt in the crush. One of the lift-men was put on to try to keep the crowd in a queue and prevent the entrance from becoming completely blocked. The office was closed between I and 2 p.m., but as the reopening hour approached people began to assemble again, and when business was resumed it was quickly tilled. At the State coalyards off Moorhouse Avenue, a good deal of business was done with people who had brought their own conveyances and took delivery on the spot. The price under those conditions i.s 3/4 per bag. mmmmmmmm