COAL SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 87, 12 April 1918, Page 7

COAL SHORTAGE.

ECONOMY NECESSARY. STATEMENT BY HON. A. M. MYERS. The Hon. Arthur Myers (Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies) in a ' statement to-day invites the attention , of all coal consumers to the necessity of j the keenest economy being observed in the use of coal, as under present condi- j tions it is only possible to maintain all i activities by having regard to this im- . portant matter. In view of the present shortage of coal for domestic use, and the certainty that the position of bituminous coal for household purposes will become | more acute as the winter advances, the Minister has had the following hints on fuel economy drawn up for general information, and trusts that every householder will read same with interest, with | the object of securing the maximum . results from the coal and coke used, and to eliminate all waste whatsoever. The j hints are as follow: — j (1) Coal and coke mixed in equal pro- | ( portions give a fuel which will last longer than coal alone. Though the fuel ' will not blaze to the same extent, it will j give a steady red-hot effect. j (2) Remove partially-burnt embers | { when you go to bed, and put them aside ! to cool on the hearth or hob, for use j the next day. : (3) Sift all cinders so as to recover all partially burnt coal. | (4) Do not leave the dampers of the i coal range out longer than is necessary j to heat the water in the boiler, or to ' do the cooking. When dampers are out the consumption of fuel is increased. 11 (5) By banking down a fire with small j coal slightly damped and pressed down j the fire can be kept in for a long time j without waste of coal. 1 (6) If a fireplace happens to be a large ( one. and only a small slow burning fire > is required, fill in part of the space I with coal balls formed by mixing coal J with clay—these can be easily made at . I home. When dry and placed in the fire { they will, when the coal is well under way, form a glowing mass which will , consume very slowly. ; (7) Many grates, owing to their large I size, are most uneconomical in the use ( of coal. The size of large grates can be ' effectively reduced by inserting firebricks at the sides of the fire, the -firebrick be- j coming red hot, and retaining heat for j a long time. £ i (S) In all coal stores and storage bins ! < there will always be a certain amount of small coal or slack made from the break- j j ing up of coal, especially when filling it ! into the scuttles. This should be used for i damping the fires or for making the halls already alluded to, and should on no account be thrown away. (9) Use gas wherever" possible, hut economise to the utmost in its use. By , using gas you reduce the amount of coal required to be carried and delivered in retail quantities, and so economise labour without as well as within your home. At the same time you are assist- , ing in the further production of by-pro- ' ducts in the gasworks which are" commercial necessities at the present time. (10) For similar reasons, if you use solid fuel use gas coke wheneverpoesible ; , instead of coal. , The above appeared in part of our Thursday's issue.