RAILWAYS AND NEW ZEALAND COAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19256, 21 August 1924, Page 11

RAILWAYS AND NEW ZEALAND COAL.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. EXHAUSTIVE TRIALS IX PROGRESS. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 20. In reply to a question in the House ! of Representatives to-day as to using only New Zealand coal on the New Zealand railways, tho lion. Mr Contes said it was the policy of the Government to give preference to all classes of Now Zealand coal that were suitable for its various requirements. The difficulty in tho past had been that the Now Zealand mines hod not been able to give tho department supplies of sufficient quantity, or with sufficient regularity. to enable the department to carry on its business without tho importation of further supplies from abroad. The department at the present time was making exhaustive trials with a view to ascertaining the maximum extent (o which New Zealand coals might bo used with advantage for tho department’s mirposes, and when those trials were concluded an endeavour would be mado to enter into such i arrangements with the mining companies ! ns would enable supplies to be made available for tho department from the New Zealand mines to tho greatest extent that might be found possible having regard to the economical and efficient carrying on of the business of tho department and of tho industries of the dominion as a whole. In connection with the matter of imported coal it was not to bo overlooked (bat the production of coal in New Zealand had never been sufficient for all the requirements of the dominion. If. therefore, tho Railway Department took from tho New Zealand mines ail the coal it required, other industries, such as the dairy factories, gas companies, freezing works, etc., and the household trade would find themselves in short supply from the local mines. They would then have to resort to imported coal, and as tho quantities which (ho Railway Department was able to take placed it in a more favourable position ihan any other industrial concern to buy in an overseas market and to 'arrange for transport by ship. Ihe dopartment had, in the interests of the dominion as_ a whole, always considered that the local, industrial, and household requirements should have consideration when making arrangements fors its supplies. That was an aspect of the matter that should not bo overlooked when reference was l-oirig mado to importations of coal for tho Railway Department.