FUTURE USES OF COAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 October 1934, Page 6

FUTURE USES OF COAL

Combined Marketing Plan Among Colliery Owners FUEL FOR POWER GENERATION PRODUCTION OF OIL (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, To-dav. “Coal mining at present is not a paying proposition, and to place the industry on a sound basis some scheme of amalgamation, co-operation or combined marketing should be considered in order to bring about the desired result,” said Colonel Holgate, in his chairman’s address to the Coal Mine Owners’ Association annual meeting to-day. He said other industries had materially benefited by such methods. Agreements entered into last February with the miners’ unions were for 12 months, and although not signed, they had been, speaking generally, well maintained. It would be necessary to again meet the unions’ repre sentatives in February to consider new agreements. Colonel Holgate gave the main causes for the depressed condition of the coal mining industry as too many mines operating, with consequent over-piroduction, and the cutting of prices in some districts below the cost of production. In Australia and other countries it had been found necessary by the Government to step in to prevent price cutting and to protect the industry. This practice was one he advocated avoiding if possible. He was convinced that without the introduction of some practicable scheme the industry would continue to languish. There was one direction in which the .Government could be of material assistance, and that was instead of further expenditure on hydro-electric schemes, serious consideration should be given to the question of the generation of electricity from coal with lower stations erected in the vicinity of collieries. Apart from electricity, the increasing use of Diesel oil engines was affecting, and would still further affect, the demand for coal, coal.

Colonel Holgate quo,ted the example of Germany. He said that in 1017 the whole requirements of oil and benzine there were imported. “To-day,” he said, “we are informed that 40 per cent, of the requirements are being produced from their coal.” He went on to speak of hydro-generation and said he was convinced that in future years New Zealand brown coals at least would be carbonised, "xle considered carbonising on similar lines to those adopted in the Waikato was the only ideal for New Zealand, as high grade smokeless fuel and oil suitable for forming into diesel oil, light oil and benzine was obtainable in payable quantities, the demand for which was already here and was increasing. The following officers were elected : President, Colonel Holgate; vice-pre-sident, Mr AV. A. Flavell; executive, Messrs. AV. Goodfellow, AV. Bxcell, AV. Hardie, F. AV. Mitchell and R. B Bell.