GAS SUPPLY DIFFICULTIES.
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THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR user appears to be doomed "to harassing. To ease the petrol situation he embraced coal-gas, being additionally prompted to this action by the Ministry of Munition's exhortation to use gas for power and thus assist directly towards the increase of the byproducts so urgently required for explosives and other military requirements.
But apparently the gas-producing companies are placed upon the horns of a dilemma. They are experiencing great difficulty in acquiring the requisite supplies of bituminous coal for gas making purposes or the necessary labour to, satisfy existing demands. Accordingly they, do not view the/new inroads upon their resources with confidence. In Birmingham the outlook is regarded with anxiety, and private consumers of coal-gas are urged to be sparing in the use of this commodity, so that various munition works may he safeguarded against any shortage during the winter months, orders for which, by the way, are still growing. .
One of our readers, William Wilson and Son, Ltd., of Sheffield, also write to us pointing out that while they are enthusiastic supporters of the gas movement and are ready to carry out conversions, the Sheffield Gas Co. point out the inability to take on large extra consumptions which a general adoption of coal-gas for motor propulsion would involve, owing to the fact that they are short of labour. This Gas Co. possess the plant and have the coal, and if. the M.O.M. will only provide them the labour they will be only too delighted to cater for this new demand as energetically as in their power. ,The circumstance that the new movement is likely to be throttled from this cause should prompt the authorities to immediate aetion. It is of little avail to cry "Use Gas for Power" if the gas be not forthcoming for the purpose. The gas companies Of the country through their combination of interests stand in a unique position to impress the authorities. With their united front they -should be able to drive home the disability under which they, are ,labouring, and" thus secure -the labour of which they are in such urgent need.