SUPPLIES OF COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17614, 29 October 1920, Page 6

SUPPLIES OF COAL.

THE COUNCIL'S SUGGESTIONS. REPLY BY MR. MASSEY, HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. The resolution and suggestions relating to coal supplies which were forwarded by the City Council to the Government during the recent coal shortage have been replied to by the Prime Minister. The letter from Mr. Massey was presented to the council last evening.

Reviewing the council's suggestions regarding the export of coal, Mr. Massey 6tated that it would appear front; the statement made to the effect that 275,000 tons were exported last year that bituminous coal had been exported from the Dominion for trade purposes. This was not the case. With the exception of coal for Admiralty purposes the whole of the remainder was supplied for bunker purposes to overseas steamers shipping the Dominion's produce. Only 150,000 tons of coal, which included 15,162 tons for Admiralty purposes, were shipped in 1919, the balance being used to bunker overseas vessels. Had not the Government insisted on overseas vessels taking on as much bunker coal as possible at the last coaling port en route to New Zealand a much larger amount would have had to be supplied for bunker purposes from local stocks. In reference to the statement that Auckland for some time past had not been getting an adequate share of Westport coal, the Prime Minister stated that in view of the supplies available from Waikato, the Northern collieries, and Newcastle, Auckland was more favourably situated than many other parts of the Dominion. This was borne out by the fact tha,t public services in Auckland were able to carry on for some weeks after supplies from the Waikato mines had been cut off. In Wellington similar services were dependent on .shipments arriving weekly from the West Coast, which were often subjected to serious delays owing to bar conditions and unfavourable weather.

.As to the suggestion that the production of coal in the Dominion should be increased, Mr. -Massey stated that every possible effort was being made to increase the coal output. Untilthe number of miners was materially increased to fully man existing collieries very little improvement could be effected bv opening up new fields. It was hoped that the steps at present being taken would result in a number of miners arriving in Now Zealand in the near future. It was quite obvious that until production in the Dominion was materially' increased every possible effort must be made by the 'Government to obtain additional supplies from Newcastle and elsewhere even at the high cost prevailing.

Question of Hydro-electricity. Replying to the council's suggestions as to the supply of hydro-electric power, the Prime Minister stated that the saving last year in Canterbury through the Lake Coleridge scheme, as compared with previous methods of generating power, was over 120,000 tons of coal, or its equivalent in kerosene or petrok The position in the Auckland district was that the Horahora plant of 8000 h.p. papacity was too small to justify running mains further north than Hamilton. Even if extended to a capacity of, say, 12,000 h.p. this would only justify its extension north to Huntly, pending the supply from Arapuni. At night and on Sundays there would be a large amount of spare power from 2000 to 3000 h.p.—which could be utilised to save, say, 15,000 to 20,000 tons of coal a year, if joined up with the Auckland City or other plant of sufficient capacity to give this demand at night. A single transmission line from Horahora to Auckland would cost £150,000, but its construction could not be recommended, unless the Government obtained a guaranteed minimum of £15,000 a year for a supply of 2000 h.p. for ten hours a day, namely, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.mi, at id a unit. The Prinje Minister added that if the council was prepared to consider any such proposal a conference with the Public Works Department could be arranged.

Night Supply Not Practicable. A report on the suggestion to obtain, a night supply of power from Horahora, submitted by the engineer of the tramways department, Mr. F. de Guerrier, stated that the suggestion was riot practicable. The. power for the city was chiefly required during the day. From 8 p.m. till 11 p.m. the' supply that would be available from Horahora would be sufficient only to enable one of the two power stations to be shut. During the rest of the time only one quarter of the available supply could be made use of if both stations were shut. These circumstances made it impossible to take anything approaching the amount of power which would bring in the guaranteed minimum revenue required by the Government. Apart from this a certain amount of coal would be use! to keep up steam in the boilers of both stations, and a limited staff would have to be on duty to attend to this work. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth said that if the matter were not so serious he would take the reply as one of Mr. Massey's little jokes The suggestion that the council should pay £15,000 a year for »a night supply of current was ludicrous, seeing that the council at present had a more than ample night supply. The current was required during the day. The opinion was eipresaed'bv Mr. K. V Bagnall that the Prime Minister had in mind the posaibiltv of a suburban demand. . Mr. A. . Hall Skelton said opportunity should be taken to emphasise the demand for a proper hydro-electric supply for the city and province. Other schemes were being pushed ahead and Auckland, as usual, was being placed last on the list. ♦u« . * Bldwort said that apparently the Prime Minister's suggestion was to turn night in,to day. As to the suggestion that more miners should be obtained to increase the output of coal be had begn inarmed that miners who had arrived in Wew Zealand were following other occupations owing to being unable to get proper housing accommodation at the mines. He hoped this matter would be emphasised in the reply to the Prime Minister ti. The T letter and report were referral to the Mayor, the chairman of the Public Services committee and the chairman of the Works Committee to frame a reply to the Prime Minister