5

H.—24.

The greatest falling-off during the war period, however, has taken place in connection with the output of bituminous coal, the figures being as follows :— T 1914 ... ... ... ... ... 1,494,315 1915 ... ... ... ... ... 1,404,400 1916 ... ... ... ... ... 1,422,047 1917 ... ... ... ... ... 1,247,989 1918 ... ... ... ... ... 1,122,308 Of course, the big falling-off of outputs and importations in 1918 was due largely to the influenza epidemic in New Zealand towards the end of the year, which had the effect of practically stopping all shipping, both local and intercolonial. In addition to this, many of our important mines were forced to close down during part of the epidemic, and a number of miners fell victims to the scourge. No sooner "was the epidemic over in the Dominion than it became serious in the Commonwealth, and shipping was again disorganized. On top of this came the recent big shipping strike, which reduced intercolonial shipping to Australia to four vessels carrying New Zealand crews. As influenza is still prevalent in Australia, ships are still subject to quarantine delays. It was clear at the beginning of the current year that if the Dominion's industries and services were to be carried on, increased effort had to be made by shipping companies to augment our supplies by making arrangements for all overseas ships coming to the Dominion to utilize all available space for the carriage of coal. Owing to the acute food shortage in the United Kingdom and the congested condition of our cool stores in the Dominion, very little relief was forthcoming, as it was imperative to turn ships round with the least possible delay. It was found, however, when the shipping dispute in Australia arose that the number of steamers usually engaged on the Newcastle run was reduced, as previously stated, to four steamers manned by New Zealand crews, and accordingly further representations were made to the New Zealand representatives of the overseas shipping companies, as well as to the Imperial Shipping Controller, that unless substantial relief was forthcoming from America and Australia by overseas vessels the Government would have no alternative but to reduce bunkering supplies to only sufficient quantities to carry them to Newcastle instead of via Panama. The Outcome of this pressure resulted in the London Tonnage Committee permitting overseas ships to pick up Cargoes of coal en route to New Zealand at America and Newcastle, the freight rate from the later being ultimately fixed at £1 17s. 6d. per ton, having been reduced from £2 55., which was the rate originally quoted. The freight rate charged from America is £2 per ton. The following list illustrates the extent to which assistance has been rendered by the carriage of coal by overseas vessels from America and Australia :—

Return showing Coal imported in Overseas Tonnage since March last as a Result of Special Representations.

Name of Vessel. Company. Quantity. Allocated to. Origin. Callone Raranga Middleham Castle .. War Music Pakeha N.Z. Shipping Co. Shaw-Savill N.Z. Shipping Co. Tons. 3,110 4,989 6,063 4,091 4,809 Railways Railways and trade Bunkering Newcastle. Newport News. Newcastle. Newport News. Shaw-Savill ,, Trades and essential industries Railways, industries, and bunkers Bunkers Railways and gas Trade Railways Railways and industries Railways Paparoa N.Z. Shipping Co. 3,483 ») Rimutaka Orissa Port Pirie Port Napier Armagh Shropshire Prinzessin )i C. and D. Line 33 N.Z. Shipping Co. N.Z. and African Shaw-Savill Scales Limited 4,083 7,400 350 4,000 2,500 1,750 3,000 2,500 33 Newcastle. Rona Gasworks Newcastle (two trips). Newcastle. Port Victor Otira E. R. Stirling Mamari C. and D. Line Shaw-Savill 600 7,250 4,000 4,268 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,685 4,966 900 4,506 4,286 2,000 Railways j> Shaw-Savill N.Z. and African " ?* ,, .. Newport News. Newcastle. Essex Durham Port Victor Mamari Masula Waiwera 3) C. and D. Line Shaw-Savill N.Z. and African Shaw-Savill 3) 33 * " ,, . . »> M Newport News. 33 ,, 5) Newcastle. West Virginian. Kumara Westmeath Zealandic 3? N.Z. and African Shaw-Savill 33 3 J • " * " 33 Newcastle, 33 * *