FUEL RESEARCH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 8

FUEL RESEARCH.

ELECTRICITY V. GAS. address by dr. MARSDEN. [THE PKB3S Special Service.] WELLINGTON. February 10. The importance of the conservation of the Dominion's natural luel resources was stressed at to-day's meeting of the Goa Institute of N c "' Zealand, ihut we should depend upon imported coal when our own supplier suitably blended, were equally efficacious, was dethe member* of the Institute. Dr. K. Mursdeu, permanent secretary of the Department ot bcientilic ami Industrial said that the question of fuel research was one of aiviti importance iiom a national point oi view, ami it was one which was before his Council. Aluch \aluable data had already been collected, and before long it would lie possible to issue a report. It was obvious that the luel question, whether coal, gas, or by-products, could not bo dealt with economically unless every aspect was taken into consideration, .England s coal stipplv, it had been reckoned, would last another GOO years, but in New Zealand another 50 years might see us seriously considering the question of the supply of bituminous coal. Not that the supply would be exhausted, but it must be admitted that tho present methods were wasteful. Consumption of coal in the future would be chiefly through gas and its byproducts. The advent of hydro-elec-tricity had undoubtedly stirred up gas companies. The ease of control of electricity was a great factor in its favour, hut the gas companies had copied and improved upon many of the best electrical equipments. Electrical development would not mean the use. of less coal, or a decrease in the use of g as —just the opposite —and to him it was obvious that electricity could not in the long run eupply all the fuel needs of the country. "In the use of our coal," added Dr. Marsden, "it is up to us to adopt the most economical methods possible. The fuel bill to many a small plant is a very big item of expenditure, nnd there is undoubtedly room for improvement in efficient and economical use. It is a matter of national concern that our fuel resources be used as economically as possible." Tho vice-president of tho Gas Institute of New Zealand, Mr F. W. J. Belton, of Christchurch, said that he was pleased to hear Dr. Marsden say that the fuel question was a national one. If England had recognised this some years ago much subsequent trouble might have been avoided. He would liko, however, to correct Dr. Marsdon's idea that electricity had the "pull" over gas in the case of control. This was not the case, for, amongst many instances, gas furnaces had been found to be the only practicable method of heating the barrels of 15-inch guns in manufacture. He quite agreed that it was desirable to use our own coal in preference to importations. His experiments in blending the New Zealand coals had been very successful, although delayed by the recent mine disaster. An argument against the use of Diesel locomotives in this country had been that they would bo dependent upon imported fuel, but he ventured to say that from 400 to 500 thousand gallons a year of suitable fuel could be derived from New Zealand coals. Any development, however, in this direction should be in the hands of the Government as a national concern, rather than in the hands of oil companies. Dr. Marsden, said Mr H. Rands, was "looking for trouble" when he ventured to mention hydro-electricity, but in spite of that»Dr. Mafsden's address was of the greatest importance to the Institute. Mr Rands said he was inclined to think that the secondary industries had rather been lost sight of in Sir Frank Heath's report. Too much importance had been laid upon agriculture. He was not very optimistic about fuel research making great strides in New Zealand. It was a world-wide problem requiring the expenditure of not hundreds or thousands, but millions of pounds. Other speakers having emphasised the importance of experiments in coal blending, Dr. Marsaeti replied to a number of questions, saying - that he advocated n comprehensive fuel survey in New Zealand, not only for present, but for future needs.