WASTAGE IN COAL PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 10

WASTAGE IN COAL PRODUCTION

NEW SOUTH WALES SEEKS BETTER METHODS MINISTER’S TOUR OF INVESTIGATION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, September 12. New South Wales is losing 25 per cent, of its coal owing to the present methods of production, and one of the objects of an extensive tour abroad by the Hon. J. M. Baddeley, Minister of Mines, Labour and Industry in the Lang Government, was to investigate methods adopted in other countries with a view to checking this wastage. ■ Mr. Baddeley has been nearly seven months away from Australia, and has visited Italy, Germany, Holland, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. He visited numerous coal fields, and considers there is more oil in the coals of New South Wales than in any other coals he had seen. There were great possibilities in the by-products of coalpossibilities that as yet had only been touched in New South Wales— and he anticipated that the report he would make to the Government would be of great assistance. Another matter investigated by Mr. Baddelev was electrical development. This will also be the subject of a report, and he was not inclined 'for this reason to say much about it. He stated, however, that it was their object to try to produce cheaper electricity, thus helping industry. It was further hoped to produce natural gas. Roads also interested the Minister. He said there was a project in New South- Wales to construct a concrete highway from Svdnev to Newcastle, a distance of 100 miles. Concrete was now largely favoured abroad, but he believed it’ had its limitations and should only be put down under certain conditions.

Mr. Baddelev is convinced that the Lang Government will be returned to office at the forthcoming elections. He will be the official Labour candidate for the Cessnock seat, in the Maitland coalfields. Mr. Baddelev stated that he was very much impressed with Germany, adding that the country was recuperating in a wonderful manner after the war. He received the greatest hospitality everywhere he went, and gathered the impression that the great majority of Germans were friendly disposed toward Great Britain, and especially toward Australia.