Coal Distillation Plant Wanted For Buller Area

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 7

Coal Distillation Plant Wanted For Buller Area

[SPECIAL TO STAR] WESTPORT, This Day.

The Government will be urged to investigate the installation of a coal distillation plant in the Buller district as the result of the adoption by the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, meeting at Westport, of a remit to this effect submitted by the Buller County Council. Speaking in support of the remit. Mr J. H. Powell, of Buller, said taat coal was more valuable than food and instead of being sold for about 30s a ton on the Westport wharf it should realise a lot more in valuable by-products. Distillation of coal would be very handy in the saving of dollars, and a plant on the West Coast would provide good employment for many young people. Strong support for the remit was given by Mr F. F. Boustridge (Greymouth), who said that 75 per cent, of the value of coal was lost by burning it. He realised that the cost of such a plant would be heavy, but the association should keep pressing for the installation of one on the W est Coast or any other suitable area where coal was produced. Mr A. T. Newman (Gore) considered that the brown coal in Southland could be treated to advantage. “I would like to see more coal lor domestic use,” said Mr L. J. Ireland ("Dunedin). “If we had such a plant it would only mean a lot of extra taxation.” .