N.Z. Getting Only 10,000 Tons Of British Coal

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1948, Page 3

N.Z. Getting Only 10,000 Tons Of British Coal

WELLINGTON, Tue. (Sp.)— New Zealand will now get only 10,000 tons of steam coal from Britain. The original allocation for January and February was 20,000 tons, but cablegrams received yesterday advised that this quantity had been halved. An attempt is being made to buy the balance from South Africa and India.

New Zealand’s coal problem was not simply one of greater output, said the Under-Secretary for Mines (Mr C 11. Benney; last night. The greatest need was for bituminous coal of low sulphur content, suitable for gasworks and locomotive use. This was the type of coal that was being imported from Britain." Although every effort was being made to increase production in New Zealand there would be difficulty in keeping the railways and gasworks supplied if the necessary imports of low-sulphur bituminous coal were not obtained.

had to be sacrificed for immediate production. That haci tended to reduce the output per man now that development whs being resumed.

The Dominion's total coal production at present was 2.800,000 tons a year. Even if tHis were increased to 4,000,000 tons a year there still would not be .sufficient coal of low bituminous content. NEW PROCESS WANTED It could not be hoped to increase production of this type substantially at present unless a process was discovered for reducing the high sulphur content of New Zealand bituminous coal. This, which amounted to about onethird of the total New Zealand output, came from Greymouth and, to a less extent, from the Buller area. Open-cast mining of low-sulphur bituminous coal was not foreseen, Mr Bcnney continued. The department had not been able to tind deposits where the method could be used However, there were big schemes on hand for developing open-cast mining to produce domestic and industrial coal. Recently tenders were called for heavy duty plant valued at £150.000 for open-cast mining in the North and South Islands. BRIQUETTE PLANS Plans were being made to produce briquetted coal to improve the industrial supply. It was hoped to have the commercial plant at Sockburn. near Christchurch, operating in 18 months’ time. The process would allow use to be made of low-grade coals by removing moisture and blending with higher grades. Although longer hours were worked in the mines than before the war output had fallen because of the shortage of men. * During the war development work