COAL OUTLOOK

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22154, 28 September 1943, Page 2

COAL OUTLOOK

HOUSEHOLDERS LIMITED SUPPLIES ARRIVE SLOWLY Coal supplies in Hamilton and suburbs are still very short, and householders are experiencing difficulty. Merchants declare they have been unable to supply orders in full for months, merely distributing a bag or two at a time in expectation that each week will see additional supplies coming from the mines. “But it never comes,” said one merchant, “and all the stories circulating to the contrary are unfounded. We have been right up against it for so long that we are beginning to think the demand will never be overtaken.” Anotl*of merchant said this morning that he had received no coal since Friday last, but hoped one or two trucks would arrive today. He was only able to send out to his regular customers one sack of coal at a time. Weight of Sacks

Referring to the weight of sacks of jeoal this merchant said the position in Hamilton was not so acute as in Auckland City, where it was reported that a deadlock had occurred over the Drivers’ Union insisting on bag .weights being reduced from 1801 b. jand 1901 b. to a maximum of 1401 b., lor 16 to the ton. He said something | had been published about Hamilton ; drivers falling into line with the Auckland drivers, but his inquiry i failed to show that the drivers were ! refusing to carry the heavier bags, : though of course both employer and employee alike agreed that with the prevailing scarcity of labour it was desirable to lessen the weights to be carried from the delivery vehicle to the backyard coal bins of many private homes. Average Weight

Inquiry as to the weights delivered in Hamilton showed that most sacks lof coal weighed from 1701 b. and 1801 b.

In Auckland the Coal Dealers’ Association recently approached the Price Tribunal regarding the extra costs involved in delivering coal in sacks of 1401 b., but the Price Tribunal has not yet indicated its attitude in the matter. Before the stabilisation of prices last December several applications were made to the Price Tribunal for an increase in the price of coal to offset the higher costs, but no finality was reached. Negotiations were proceeding, but last month the Drivers’ Union intimated that its members would refuse to carry coal packed in bags of 12 to the ton and demanded that there be 16 bags to the ton.