DOMINION COAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 13 April 1936, Page 3

DOMINION COAL.

GREATER USE DESIRABLE. „ MINISTER’S CONCERN. WELLINGTON. April 10, Any decision which the Government may coble to on a proposal to place a tax on imported coal will depend' on the response which the big users of coalm New Zealand make to an appeal to use a. greater proportion of native coal. This was made clear in an interview on Thursday by the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. "Webb) when asked to comment on a report that there was a distinct possibility of some such tax being imposed. “I am seriously concerned about the quantity of imported coal coming into the country,” the Minister stated, “and I feel that the mining industry of New Zealand ought have the same degree of protection as other local industries. I realise the difficulties of some gas companies, which have constructed vertical retorts. These require high-class bituminous coals of noncoking character, whereas the major portion of the high-class bituminous coals in this country have swelling propensities which make them not quite so suitable for those retorts. However, I have certain information made available by the committee which was set up some time ago. That committee reported on the advantages to be obtained -by mixing coals for different industries, and it is quite evident from this information that the vertical retorts could utilise considerably more native coal.

“But .before making any recommendation to the Government to impose a duty on imported coal; I am anxious to find out to what extent the principal users of imported coal are prepared to meet the Government in utilising a greater proportion of our own. With this' in view I have circularised all ga.s companies in New Zealand, and 1 aril pleased to say 'that in almost every case the companies have agreed to consider increasing the amount of native coal they are using. This notwithstanding, I am still convinced that some of the works cam utilise a still greater proportion of onr coal, and I am hoping that those works will consider the matter fully. “If the general , response is sufficiently . encouraging,” Mr Webb added, “it will have a determining influence on any proposed legislation in the direction of a tax on imported coal. However, the matter will be wa.tched very closely, and I give my assurance that the coal-mining industry of New Zealand will receive justice from the Labour Government.”