NEW ZEALAND COAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 March 1926, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND COAL

USE BY RAILWAY. COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES, (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, March 18. The report of the .Coal Inquiry Board was issued to-day. The board examined 7S witnesses and visited the coalfields. The report states .fbat it was shown that the New Zealand mines formerly supplied a much larger proportion of coal for the railways than in the past five years, and the coal then did what was required. The mines were now unable to market the whole out-' put, and consequently were i mostly working only, part time. _ Protracted trials were made under time-table conditions with various coals and mixtures of coals. These proved that quite a number of New Zealand coals, are suitable for locomotive purpose because they a#e excellent steaming coals, and the use of certain native coals -will be more economical than imported. The use of bituminous coals involves 1 little, if any more danger to property than limported, while with brown coal there is a greater danger. Probably, the Department will ‘be able to obtain continuous and adequate supplies. It waq desirable that the proportion of brown coal should be increased, as a large proportion' of slack militated against railway use. The report of the Coal Inquiry Board, issued to-day, stated, in regard to the question of altering locomotives to suit New Zealand coals, that owing to the supersession of harrow fireboxes with wide in the new engines the necessity for such alteration is becoming less and will automatically disappear. . Brown coals gave very good results, and could be largely used if the spark; trouble was reduced. The board recommends the appointment of a technically trained and qualified fuel engineer to be responsible for the purchase ’ and economic use of all the coal necessary for railways.. After dealing briefly with enlarged fireboxes, a trouble which is curing itself, and the danger from sparks, which is a matter for the locomotive engineers and other experts to undertake, the report proceeds: “The whole question of the coal supply for the “New Zealand railways is of such magnitude and complexity, and the financial aspect is so important, that we strongly recommend that this branch of railway management should be placed under the control of a technically trained and' qualified fuel engineer, who would be responsible for the purchase and the' economic use of all coal necessary, and we are of opinion that if such an officer were instructed to use every endeavour to overcome any difficulties met in utilising New Zealand coals, it will be found that within a- very short time very little coal need be imported, and a great economy in the fuel bill would he effected. We are further of the opinion that the maximum economy in the use of coal cannot be attainedunless this recommedation is carried out.”

The board says new locomotives- can conveniently be designed to be yused with New Zealand coal, and adds that the advantages of New Zealand rising New Zealand coal would be undeniable at the present time. The balance of trade with Australia is against New Zealand, and the continual importation of large quantities of Australian coal will not improve the position. If no coal is- imported it is not likely that more men will be employed in the coal mining industry, but those already engaged would have less unemployment would would consequently have greater * spending power, which would tend to improve the business both- of the State and the private individual in every direction.' The mines would be able to turn out extra- coal with little or no additional facilities. Overhead expenses would be lessened, and consequently the cost of winning coal might reasonably be expected to recede. Imported cpal involved-the employment of less labour in New Zearland, because apart from the labour involved in winning it it was usually delivered to the ports where it would be used, whereas New Zealand coal would-be carried by rail, loaded on New Zealand ships by New Zealand labour, unloaded and transported at the port of consumption. ' Thus the utilisation of New Zealand coal in place of imported coal would result in a general improvement in the labour and financial situation? and consequently the object aimed at could be achieved without a compensating loss in the operation of the railways. Moreover, the use of New Zealand coal would in many cases result in an actual direct saving in railway management. Every centre must be considered separately, because of. the cost of transporting and. storing and possibly mixing and the requirements of the varied traffic. All would be eonsidered„by a fuel engineer, whose appointment is < recommended in order that a proper solution : of each phase of the problem l could be obtained.