Mr Shand Silent On Fuel Problems

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 14

Mr Shand Silent On Fuel Problems

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 20. Calls upon the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) to give more details about his suggested rationalisation of fuel problems were made by members of the Opposition in Parliament today. Mr Shand answered questions of a regional nature, but refused to be drawn on matters of general policy.

‘‘The Minister of Mines stated last week that steps would be taken to rationalise competition between coal and oil,” said Mr W E Rowling (Opp., Buller). “I would like to have some more information about thjs. “It was suggested last year by the Government that there would be a coal and oil authority, and the Minister of Mines was mentioned as the likely head of this It seems to have disappeared at the moment, and there has been no reference to it lately—but we would certainly like to know the Government’s plans." Mir Row’ldng said the State Coalmines’ estimates did not appear to be devoting much money to research. He thought the department wruld have been doing something to estimate the quantity and quality of coal reserves. Mr W. A. Fox (Opp., Miramar) asked whether the Government had imported any Australian coal in the last 12 months , Mr Shand shook his head Mr Fox: Does this mean that we shall import no more Australian coal—that we shall be using our own to produce gas? Mr Shand again shook his head. Mr Fox: I think that is very bad When we wero the Government, we had assurances that the main gas plants were being reorganised all to burn New Zealand coal.

Mr M. A. Connelly (Opp.. Riccarton) asked what was being done to speed deliveries of coal from the West Coast to Christchurch. He also asked whether anything was being done to investigate the suggestion made last year by the Christchurch Gos Company engineer that gas could be generated - on the West Coast and piped to Christchurch. Mr Shand had not answered his question about the production of gas for Christchurch on the West Coast. Mr Connelly sadd later. The Christchurch Gas Company engineer has said this could be dpne at about half the cost of the present system. Mr Rowling sand the toss of one miner’s work on the West Coast meant the toss of livelihood to eight men. He emphasised the need for an appraisal of freight rates During the last 12 months, no collier bad left West port fully laden, Mr Rowling said This was because of conditions on the Westport bar. At the same time, when the industry was doing its b®st to cut ids costs, some 1300 tons of coal had been railed from Westport to Grey mouth There was also urgent need, Mr Rowling said, for the appointment of officers to instruct firms in the commercial use of coal. Policy Sought Mr N V Douglas (Opp. Auckland Central) sand that he also was interested in the Minister's statement about pending action on the coel-versus-oil problem. “If the Government is devising, or has devised, a policy of rationalisation between coal and oil. then I would be glad indeed to learn what action it proposes to take ” Mr Douglas saud. ‘lf the Minister was really speaking about policy, surely we have a right to know what that policy is?" Other Opposition members also made this request, but Mr Shand did not speak.