COAL PRODUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22584, 24 November 1936, Page 11

COAL PRODUCTION

STATE OF INDUSTRY 1 LOWER IMPORT FIGURES FULL USE MADE OF SLACK [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday Efforts made by the Government to increase the consumption of locallyproduced coal were referred to by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. I'. C. Webb, in an interview during the weekend. He said the use of coal was affected by competition from hydroelectricity and imported fuel oil. Last year's figures showed the lowest quantity of coal imported over a long period; nevertheless, approximately 100,000 tons were being imported to the detriment of the local industry. While it was freely admitted that in a number of vertical retort gasworks some non-swelling carbonising coal was required, said Mr. Webb, he was positively convinced that some of the gas companies affected could still use a considerable amount more of local coal. He had made repeated appeals to the industry for the use of more local coal, and was pleased to say that companies that consrmed no New Zealand coal this time last year were now using up to ''so per cent of local coal, while others had increased the quantity from 10 to 30 per cent. Elimination ol Waste Another serious matter that concerned the Waikato and to some extent Southland, where lignite coal was being produced, was the question of the disposal of slack coal, added the Minister. Fully 100,000 tons of excellent slack coal had been wasted in the Waikato alone each year as there was no market. As a result of an appeal to assist the Government in eliminating the waste, the Waikato companies had agreed to adjust the size of the screening mesh in all mines, bringing about uniformity.

It was extremely gratifying to learn that not one ton of slack coal was now being wasted in the Waikato, added Mr. Webb. Through the introduction of the* uniform practice of adjusting screening to a one-inch round mesh the companies had brought about a saving of from 8 to 10 per cent, resulting in every ton of slack now produced being required for use. )n addition a number of men had been engaged with electric shovels on old heaps of slack coal that were dumped, in order to keep up with the present demand. Extraction ol By-products Another factor which the Minister considered would have far-reaching effects 011 the coal industry was the application of scientific methods in extraction oils, petrols and other chemical products. Of every ton of coal destroyed approximately 50 gallons of oils and petrol wpnt up in smoke. The Government was in touch with all recent developments at Home an.fi 41 broad in the conversion of coal into oil, and the moment a plant was designed that could conveniently treat New Zealand coal he would have 110 hesitation in proposing its immediate installation. The quantity of coal produced in 1935 was 2,115,181 tons, a slight increase on the previous year's workings. Mr. Webb said he was confident the figures for 19.56 would show a still greater improvement. The position in June showed an increase of over 20 per cent compared with 1935.