PRODUCER GAS

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 11

PRODUCER GAS

OUTFITS FOR AUSTRALIA

Tho announcement that the Commonwealth Government has approved nf tenders to the value of £30,000 for the manufacture and supply of 400 producor-gas outfits suitable for use in automobiles, indicates that the Acting Minister of Supply and Development (Sir Frederick Stewart) intends encouraging the use of producer gas and charcoal fuel. No other member of the Federal Government has such an intimate knowledge of the absolute necessity of maintaining and developing automotive transport in tho Commonwealth even further, for he, for many years, was responsible for Sydney’s motor bus service, ho _ owning and operating a very extensive fleet. That experience; enables Sir Frederick to visualise Australia’s needs in regard to road transport and advise tho Government on matters pertaining to its maintenance and future. It, therefore, comes as no surprise to find tho Commonwealth Government, intent on war-time economy, conducting research activities with a view, to overcoming the problems associated with equipping automobiles with pro- 1 ducer-gas outfits. That considerable advance has been made in this direction is obvious from the fact that 400 producer-gas units have been placed on order by the Minister of Supply. The contracts have been distributed as follows;—Now South Wales and Queensland (joint order) 100, West Australia 125, Victoria 100, South Australia 60, and New South Wales 25. The producer-gas outfits are to be made available to the public at con-' tract prices, which are stated to range from about £64 up to £9O. including cost of fitting. It is believed that n worth-while reduction in cost would be possible were' prospective manufacturers encouraged to develop mass production. To encourage the use of producer gas in automobiles, particularly for heavy long distance haulage, steps have been taken to set up committees in all States to act in co-operation with tho Federal Supply Department with the object of fostering the use of producergas units and thereby help to conserve, durino- the war period, Australia s liquid' fuel supplies, which are stated to now cover eight months’ normal requirements.