COAL SUPPLIES.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 943, 18 May 1920, Page 4

COAL SUPPLIES.

FOR several months past firewood of a varied quality has been chiefly relied upon by the people of Te Awamutu for domestic heating. The output of coal from, the mines has been so restricted that it seemed hopeless to expect an allocation more equal to the requirements, and wood fires became the standard in the borough. Just what quantity of coal has been under allocation for local use is not known; certainly it has been much below the requirements,

and the people naturally dred&d the proach of winter. It was believed however, that the allocation was a proportionate one amongst towns and that Te Awarautu was only sharing a national shortage and a degree of inconvenience of inconvenience that was general throughout the land. But it has happened during the last few weeks that a new avenue of supply has opened; privileged people are able to draw large supplies from dealers in Hamilton. This gives rise to the suggestion that people in the sister town are not experiencing any short supply. If thrjy : vere, there would surely be none left over for transference to Te Awamutu. Although it is most welcome to see supplies coming in from anywhere to help relieve the prevalent shortage it is wrong in principle that those who can afford to buy large consignments should be able to draw supplies that will last many months, while others, less fortunately situated, cannot obtain enough for the demands of the moment. Evidently there is something wrong with the apportionment when this sort of thing is possible, and what is needed --and needed urgently—is a re-allo-cation that will make all available supplies ready for general and equal distribution. With the evidence of oversupply at Hamilton people cannot be expected to tolerate in silence a continuance of the acute shortage in Te Awamutu. The rationing system is not well founded—that fact is evident —and it therefore n'eeds an immediate overhaul.