FUEL FOR THE RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18196, 15 September 1922, Page 8

FUEL FOR THE RAILWAYS.

VALUE OF WELSH COAL. BETTER THAN NEW ZEALAND [BY TELEGBAI'U.—SPECIAL REPORTER..] WELLINGTON. Thursday. The respective merits of Welsh and New Zealand coal as a fuel _ for railway locomotives were briefly mentioned in tho House today. Mr. H. E. Holland (Bullcr) had "complained of tho action of the Railway Department in importing coal from abroad, and said this should not have been necessary as the locally produced coal was equal if not superior in quality. Mr. J. S. Dickson iParnoll) said that engine drivers on the Main Trunk line had informed him that one ton of Welsh coal went as far as one ton eight hundredweight of New Zealand coal. Mr. Holland: That is not tho statement made to me. Mr. Dickson added that ho had been told that when using Welsh coal the firemen had a "gentleman's life" as compared to conditions when using New Zealand ooal. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Railways, said the department was getting some coal from abroad which was superior to our own. His information was that one ton of Welsh coal was equal to one and a-quarter tons to ono ton eight hundredweight of New Zealand coal. He supposed that referred to average samples of both coals. Mr. Holland: Is that why you had to allow ten minutes each way to clean the engines? The Minister replied that that had nothing to do with the question.