HEATING VALUES

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11783, 20 March 1924, Page 11

HEATING VALUES

NEW ZEALAND AND IMPORTED 'COAL. INVESTIGATION SUGGESTED: In an editorial article the New Zealand Employers* Federation Industrial Bulletin oalU attention to the fact that during the past year half a nullion tons more than 20 per cent, of the coal requirements of the Dominion were imparted. , , If produced in New Zealand, the article continues, this would find employment for 1000 men at the mines alone, and prove highly advantageous to the Dominion in many other ways. One colliery company alone in the Dominion paid to the Government last year for railway, haulage, royalties, rates, and taxes no less than. £166,000. In this matter of importing coal the Government -railways are the greatest offenders, and as statements justifying this course on the score of eoonomy are made from time to time, the whole question ought to be investigated. The Minister for Railways said recently that it was more economical to import coal; and the General Manager was reported to have said that calorific values had to -be considered, and proceeded to say that on this basis best Welsh ooal cost on the express trains 231 b to 251 b per mile Newcastle 36Lh per mile, and best New Zealand coal 431 b per mile. This seems to indicate a great disparity in values. The high calorific value of some of our New Zealand coals is undeniable, and although, unfortunately, more friable bhan some of the imported coals, compares favourably with them in heating values. It might be useful to have a commission of experts composed of, say, railway, mechanical, and perhaps mining engineers, with, say, the Government Analyst and a representative of the Mines Department, or such other persons as may be thought advisable to inquire into the suitability and comparative values of New Zealand and imported coals for locomotive work, and as to the feasibility of adapting the furnaces to the better use of the locally obtained product.