COAL INQUIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 February 1925, Page 5

COAL INQUIRY.

«£’ SUITABILITY OF N.Z. PRODUCT

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.} DUNEDIN, Feb. 26. The Railway Coal Board set up to inquire whether New Zealand coals are suitable for consumption on the railways sat at Dunedin to-day. Robert Lee, managing director of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, controlling the Kaitangata and other mines, said that at one time the company .supplied coal to the railways. He considered then that screened coal and nuts were suitable for the railways. His company could! supply ui) to 40,000 tons a year, which would mean the employment of an additional 70 or 80 men. The output of their mines had fallen off by two-ffftlis. George Tinker, representing the Southland Coal Mine Owners’ Association, said the Southland mines could supply the Government with 50,000 tons of screening annually. Arthur John Evans, assistant locomotive foreman, said Kaitangata was dirty coal and made it necessary that fires be cleaned every ten miles. He considered that with the present loads and speeding up it could not be used. Southland coal was not d'irty. Newcastle was easy coal to work on an engine, though the jiereentage of New Zealand coal now used could be increased. The inquiry has concluded.