UNSATISFACTORY COAL AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR-NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 8

UNSATISFACTORY COAL AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR-NEW ZEALAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, 21st March. With considerable reluctance the local press has given another advertisement of the superior qualities of Westport, New Zealand, coal to that which is produced here. This is in connection with further tests made during the recent training operations of the vessels of the Australian fleet of warships. Despite what was don e^ to put at the disposal of the fleet for these trials the best kind of coal produced in the southern colliery districts in New South Wales, the result was the same as in the first trials— the coal was unsatisfactory and not to be compared with that from Westport. So, despite our much-vaunted richness in coal resources, we have to send to New Zealand for fuel to keep our warships going. The only consolation to be found in this fact is that it makes Australia a less desirable place than New Zealand for capture by a foreign foe. The Minister for Defence, Senator Millen, a loyal New South Welshman, holds to what seems an almost desperate hope that by very careful selection New South Wales may be able to provide for the fleet enough coal of a satisfactory character. He wants still further most exhaustive tests to be made. In this connection a report is current to the effect that the boiler* and engines of our brand new warsmp Australia are in a very bad way and that many thousands of pounds will have to be spent in repairs. Bad coal is said to be at the bottom of the mischief. However, Senator Millen assures us that he has not heard anything about this damage.