NEW ZEALAND COAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND COAL

USE ON RAILWAYS WELSH IMPORTATIONS Figures in the Railways Statement show that the percentage of New Zealand coal used by the Railways rose from 23 in 1924-25 to CSJ during the last year. "It is tho Government's policy to use upon the railways as large a proportion of New Zealand coal as can bo warranted by the general economics of the fuel situation from time to time," says the Minister. "Tho economic factor must, therefore, be considered as governing the application of this general principle in regard to the use of native coal, and must bo taken as an explanation of any fluctuations recorded in the proportions of native and imported coals used when comparisons are made as between ono year and another. For instance, present quotations indicate that Welsh coal can be landed in the Dominion at a •prico equal to that paid for tho best Now Zealand coal, and, with definito knowledge of the high qualities of the ■AVelsh product and its suitability for our requirements, it-is clear-that consideration must be given to tho alternative of importing by those responsible for coal-purchases." At tho present time tho Department is buying all tho. bituminous (bard) coal it can procure from the New Zealand mines, in addition to the maximum quantity of native brown (soft) coal that it can burn. AVaikato coals are being used to the limit of practicable consumption. . Regarding-the-scientific.treatment of. coal and lignite by distillation, it has been stated that New Zealand browncoal so treated would produce a smokeless fuel of high calorific value. The possibilities presented by the car-, bouisation of our native brown coal, thereby producing a satisfactory fuel for use in locomotives, havo not been overlooked by tho Government. The Railway Department, iv conjunction with tho Mines Department and. the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, has, after obtaining the most up-to-date information and special reports from the leading authorities in England, fully investigated this matter, and the mining interests in the Waikato are fully acquainted with the results. "As an indication of the practical encouragement given by the Government to the establishment of a carbonising plant, we havo made an offer i to let a contract for the supply of all railway coal requirements in the middle North Island district should the industry be established," remarks Mr. Coates.