COAL FOR RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 13

COAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SMALLER WAIKATO ORDERS. DANGEROUS DURING SUMMER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. "As far as practicable we will use New Zealand coal on the railways, and all I have to be satisfied about is that I am not asking the department to do something that is unreasonable or dangerous." This announcement was made in the House to-day by the Minister of Railways, Mr. Coates, when his attention was drawn by Mr. W. L. Martin (Raglan) to the fact that orders for Waikato coal had been reduced by the department. Mr Coates said during the winter months the Railway Department had been taking about 1100 tons of Waikato coal a week. The view of the experts was that this coal was dangerous during the summer months, and already a number of fires had been reported, their cause being attributed to the use of lig nite coal on the railway engines. When he had discussed Ahb subject with the experts they ,hud advised that the requirements of Waikato coal during tbe summer would be about 250 to 300 tons a week. "It must be remembered," added Mr. Coates, "that we are carrying out very extensive experiments with regard to the use of lignite coal and mixing it with hard coal." Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller): Have you not cut down the orders for Blackball coal, also?

Mr. Coates said he had no information on that point.