SHORTAGE OF COAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1309, 24 April 1918, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF COAL.

THE STATE OFFICE.

PRESENT SUPPLY EXHAUSTED

No orders for coal have been accepted at the State Office to-day, after the big rush yesterday, when 1800 orders were taken for one bag lots. Tho delivery of so many small orders will take about a week to fulfil. This method of delivery is necessarily an expensive one. The next shipment of coal for the State Office will be by the Kamona, which loads for Lyttelton at the end of the week. The whole of this shipment will not be available for domestic use, however, as the local office lias to submit its schedule of allotments, showing how many essential industries are supplied. The Kailway Department has also first call on the coal. It is hoped, however, that the office will be able to resume accepting orders early next week. At present only coke and wood is being supplied. The position with regard to private coal merchants, while not so acute as to necessitate closing down on orders, is serious enough, as in most cases the merchants will only supply one bag to each customer. In most ease* it is not anticipated that the sale will have to be stopped, and merchants are fairly confident of holding on until the position is relieved by another shipment.