N.Z. COALS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 88, 8 January 1926, Page 8

N.Z. COALS

AND RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES IS LOCAL PRODUCT SUITABLE? BOARD COMPLETES INVESTIGATION Can New Zealand coals be utilised economically on our railways to a greater extent than has hitherto been the case? Considerable light is expected to be thrown on this important question at an early date, when the report ot the Board ot Inquiry appointed by the Government is made public. The board has now completed its investigations, and its findings are available for the consideration of the Minister, of Railways (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) upon his return to Wellington next week.

For many years the question of coal requirements in the Dominion has warranted the closest attention, and when applied to an undertaking such as the railways, which consumes approximately 350,000 tons annually, quality of coal and expenditure involved are matters that must necessarily receive the utmost care. From time to time since the war the Railway Department has been criticised on account of the large amount of bituminous coal its imports from Newcastle, and it has been contended that New Zealand should be self-reliant in regard to coal, and that preference should be given to the local product. But, as the Minister pointed out in the Railways Statement for 1925, the Dominion has never produced coal in sufficient quantities to meet her own requirements. It is interesting to recall that' as far back as in 1878 importations totalled 174,000 tons annually; in 1914 they were represented by 518,070 tons; whie in 1919 they were 455,494 tons. Shortage of supplies rendered the position so acute in 1917 that control cf the distribution was inaugurated and remained in force until 1921.

The diminution in the production of bituminous coal in New Zealand was reflected in the enormous increase in importations, much of which went to build up railway reserve stocks. These had become so depeted in 1919 as to necessitate a serious curtailment of train services, with a consequent inconvenience to the public and considerable loss in revenue. The uncertainty of local supplies was responsible to a large extent for the increased importations, and the trade so established has been an important factor in placing the local industry in the position it is in to-dav. From time to time the Government has indicated its willingness to utilise local coal to the fullest possible extent, but cognisance has to be taken of the Department’s experience that with the locomotives at present in use, the most satisfactory and economical results are obtained by the use of screened bituminous coal either from the West Coast or Newcastle. In view of the far-reach-ing importance of the question, and in order to obtain the best possible advice in the matter, the Government appointed a Board of Inquiry consisting of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department (Mr. F. W. Furkert), the Assistant-Ch’ef Mechanical Engineer, and the Designing Engineer of Railways, the general secretary of the E.F.C.A., an engineer of the Mines Department, and a representative of the mine owners and miners respectively, to inquire into and report on the following matters: — '(1) Whether, and, if so, to what extent, New Zealand coals are suitable for consumption in locomotive engines run upon the New Zealand Government Railways, having regard to: (a) The quality of such coals for steaming purposes; ’(b) the economic working of the railway; (c) the safety of property on the railway or on any land adjoining the railway; (d) the possibility and likelihood of the Railway Department obtaining continuous and adequate supplies of'such coals; and (e) any other consideration which may be. relevent to the question of such suitability. The second question was whether it would be necessary to alter the construction of the locomotive engines at present in use to adapt them for efficient work, using New Zealand coals, and, if so, what would be the approximate cost of the alterations and the time required to complete them. Whethei new locomotives can conveniently be designed and used with New 7 Zealand coal, 'having regard to the same considerations, was a third question, and the fourth related to the extent of the advantages to New Zealand in finance and employment of. labour or otherwise, assuming that it was possible at reasonable cost to utilise New Zealand coal, either partially or entirely, on the railways. The board was empowered to obtain the fullest possible information, and to carry out such research and practical experimental work as might be found necessary. A considerable amount of evidence has been taken in various parts of the Dominion, and. practical tests were undertaken in a railway locomotive with classes and mixtures of coal of all qualities. The publication of the boards findings, is awaited with interest.