£5m To Ensure Coal Supply

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 3

£5m To Ensure Coal Supply

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 28. An expenditure of about £5 million will be necessary, even without including the cost of the power itself, to ensure that sufficient coal from Westport reaches the North Island for use in the projected steam power-station. This was explained by the Minister of Electricity (Mr in Parliament today in answer to a barrage of questions from members on both sides of the House. In reply to Mr W. E. Rowling (Opp., Buller) he gave the following estimates of costs:

Construction of a 6000-ton loading hopper at Stockton, £70,000; construction of a twin monocable ropeway from Stockton to Westport (a distance of 15.75 miles), £1,950,000; belt conveyors to dockside, £25,000; construction of 10,000-ton dockside bunker at Westport, £200,000: four 350 ton-hour belt conveyor loaders, £70,000; building of two 5500-ton capacity colliers at £900,000 each, £1,800,000; building of four unloading cranes (with total capacity of 1000 tons-hour) at receiving port, £300,000. “Further coal-handling equipment at the receiving end is included in the power station estimate,” Mr Shand said. “The above figures do not include contingencies and engineering amounting to approximately 15 per cent.” First Opportunity This week has provided th< first opportunity for member: to ask questions of Minister; in the House on the powei station situation since the re port of the Power Planning Committee was tabled on July 13. The recess intervened be fore notified questions coulc be put on the Order Paper. When Parliament resumec last Tuesday, Mr Rowling was first on the Order Paper with a question, which was hotly debated. Today there were six more—three by Mr R. E Jack (Govt., Waimarino), ad dressed to the Minister ol Marine (M r Scott), twc by Mr Rowling, and one by Mr J. B. Gordon (Govt., Clutha), addressed to Mi Shand. All produced supplementary questions. To Mr Gordon, who had asked whether the planning committee was seeking further information on barging the coal from Westport, Mr Shand said: “The consultants have been asked to investigate the possibility of barging in the same detail as they have already done for colliers. These investigations are to include

consideration of both New Plymouth and Wanganui as the receiving port.” He added that consideration would be given to letting the coal transport service by contract or tender. Mr Rowling: Will the committee seek details of harbour depths and weather delays? Mr Shand: This is not actually part of the committee’s work—but it will be considered. Limits Of Study Mr H. Watt (Opp., Onehunga): Why was the possibility of using barges not fully investigated? Mr Shand: It was a matter of time. Collier costs were available. Mr Watt: If an investigation was not made into barging, how can the Minister say that barging costs would be 23s a ton? Mr Shand: I have not said that. It is in the report. Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opp., Nelson): Could the Minister say how many companies in New Zealand would be prepared to tender? Would it be necessary to get an overseas company? Mr Shand: I cannot give particulars. Mr Whitehead: Does he know of one? Mr Shand said that if the

Union Steam Ship Company put an offer forward, it would certainly be considered. The barging company in Auckland would also be considered, pro-1 viding that finance and experience were considered sufficient. Ocean-Going Barges Mr Jack’s questions were all directed on the practicability of 6000-ton ocean-going barges in transporting coal from Westport and Greymouth, to Wanganui, Mr Scott said. “The nautical adviser to the Marine Department, who recently visited Hawaii, investigated the operations of the deep-sea tugs and barges of the Hawaiian Tug and Barge Co., Ltd., and considers large barges should be able to carry coal into Wanganui,” Mr Scott said. “New Zealand has had little experience of ocean barges towing, and none of barges of 6000 tons. However, the Auckland Water Transport Company has successfully operated a 1200-ton barge into Wanganui without difficulty. “The company has no doubts at all that tugs towing 6000-ton capacity barges could successfully operate between the West Coast and Wanganui, and could negotiate the bar harbours in much more adverse conditions than conventional ships.”

I Mr Rowling: What is the draught of a 6000-ton barge? ! Mr Scott: Between 14 and 15 feet. To further questions by Mr Jack, Mr Scott said the cost of two conventional colliers of 5500 dead-weight capacity each would b e about £1,500,000 each. The cost of two ocean-going tugs of 25,000 horsepower and three 6000-ton capacity barges would be about £700,000 each. Crews for conventional colliers would be 32 men each, and for the tugs about 11 men each—but a further standby crew of 11 would allow almost continuous operation. Questions On Rates When asked by Mr Jack about freight rates, Mr Scott said: “The freight rate on coal by collier from Westport to New Plymouth as advised by the Mines Department is 55s 6d a ton. The collier rate from Westport to Wanganui is 57s a ton. “There is no actual freight rate for coal by barge from Westport to Wanganui, although the main barge operators consider the rate would be in the vicinity of 30s a ton.” Mr Rowling: Can the Minister reconcile these figures with the 23s a ton mentioned in the report?

Mr Scott: That question should be asked elsewhere.