COAL PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 9

COAL PRODUCTION

SUPPLIES FOR GAS MAKING THE MINISTER’S OBJECTIVE (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 9. A conference of coal owners and of miners will be called in Wellington in the immediate future by the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb) to discuss the Dominion’s coal supplies. “It has been my endeavour to see that New Zealand industries use New Zealand coal,” Mr Webb said in an interview, explaining his reasons for calling the conference. While the response of the various gas companies has on the whole been good, we have found that many works have only short supplies of New Zealand coal in stock. If we are to reduce the importation of coal from overseas to this

country, we must first be quite sure that an adequate supply of suitable coal for gas-making can be made available in this country. The development in the use of electricity in homes and industry is assuming great proportions, and it requires the, utmost cooperation and co-ordination if tnc mining industry is to meet this; comPG “An"essential and first step to face this competition,” Mr Webb added, is that the industry should be able to ensure an adequate supply. . This is needed especially in the gas industry. Unfortunately much of our coal is not suitable for gas-making, but I am confident that an ample supply of good gas-producing coal can be produced to enable us to meet all requirements.