Natural Gas Search “Must Go On”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 12

Natural Gas Search “Must Go On”

The chairman of the New J Zealand Gas Association (Mr|l

C. H. Bennev) yesterday: warned against any division '1 between those who had access! I to natural gas and those who) did not.

In his annual report to the association he said that the

search for natural gas must go on, particularly in the South Island, and that an interim study should be made in the use of alternative feedstocks for gas making. While gas utilities could once get the full benefits

from coal by selling coke and tar as well as gas, there was now a movement away from solid fuels and tar for roadworks.

“The types of coal suitable for gas making are expensive ' and appear to be sold by the Government at below what it) costs to produce—a form of-' subsidy that one day might ll change." he said. The phasing out of coal for, gas making therefore seemed!, inevitable Mr Benney said there was a great need to ensure that:, the natural gas conversion,, was carried out efficiently and’ with a minimum of inconveni-; ence to customers. “This work could fail if thepublic is not taken fully into) our confidence and if there is a"v attempt to underrate the! inconveniences likely;

to be met during conversion operations" he said He said 1 the supervision of work should be of a high standard, the job well done and the house left clean and tidy. He said recent renorts of lar“e amounts of natural eas o ffc hore north of Australia being shipped in liquid form

to Japan were encouraging ■for New Zealand.

“This decade will see that (natural gas. wherever it may Ibe obtained, will revolutionise the gas industry.”