CONSERVING COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 18

CONSERVING COAL

A UNIFORM SCREEN SOUTHLAND MINES* ACTION " I MANY THOUSAND TONS SAVED . .. i [by TELEGRAPH—PRESS association] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A statement that at least 120,000 tons of small coal that was formerly wasted in New Zealand every year would now be saved as a result of the adoption by coalmine owners of a uniform screen for lignite coals was made by ;he Minister of Mines, the lion. P. C. Webb. Mr. Webb, who has just returned from a tour of parts of tho South Island, said ho had discussed tho question with mino owners at lnvercargill, with tho result that tho Southland mines had adopted a ujii form screen, as in the 'Waikato. "The Government is determined that thin coal must bo conserved," said Mr Webb. "After discussing tho question with the companies I feel confie'eut that with tho application of a seven-eighths screen tho problem will be solved in tho North Island. It is refreshing to know that no small coal is now being destroyed. Indeed, some companies are finding it difficult to meet tho demand for steam coal. With the adoption of the principle in Southland a solution of the problem will be effected there. Mr. Webb said that previously more than 100,000 tons of this coal was wasted every year in tho Waikato, and more than 20,000 tons in Southland, and this had been'going on for years.