COAL FOR NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 13

COAL FOR NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In his letter of the 6th inst._ your correspondent, “Railway Engine Driver,” has evaded my previous question concerning the need of the last imported coal and the quantity of coal that was then in stock. He now seems more concerned about Chinese fruiterers, who should be, to his liking, placed under the same category as imported goods. He singles out Blackball coal, but I would remind him that that is only one of numerous West Coact coals. “Railway Engine Driver ” informs us that he has worked on the north road between Dunedin and Oamaru, but this is only a small section of the North road, and of the New Zealand railways. Should Blackball coal be so severe on the throat and eyes in the Mihiwaka tunnel I would like to point out that there are no tunnels between Herbert and Christchurch, and that there are four branch lines on that section, with only one tunnel, and this one could hardly be called a tunnel. Rewanui and Blackball can be, and have been, burnt to good advantage between Oamaru and Christchurch. Would “Railway Engine Driver ” ask his fireman which he would rather have—Rewanui, Blackball, or Australian Port Kembla coal?—I am, etc., Railway Fireman. Dunedin, January 6.