PRODUCTION DRIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 7

PRODUCTION DRIVE

INCREASED COAL OUTPUT PROPOSAL FOR BRITAIN AND EUROPE N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rcc. 9 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 5. The Paris correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the report of the economic conference will suggest that Britain should increase her coal production in five years from 200,000,000 tons to 250,000,000 tons, and increase her coal exports to 40,000,000 tons within the five-year period. These figures are based upon the retention of the five-day week and take into account the need for extensive mechanical re-equipment in British mines. The report proposes that Britain should export 13,000,000 tons of coal to Europe next year. An equivalent production drive is expected from the Ruhr, which it is proposed should increase its coal output from 86,000,000 to 121.000,000 tons yearly. The committee contends that if its recommendations were followed and expectations realised, Europe will be indepeifdent of American coal supplies by 1951. The report suggests that if the United States will help with supplies and materials, Western European nations should be able to co-operate to develop their electricity output from 43 000,000 kilowatts this year to 65,000,000 kilowatts by 1951. This involves the organisation of a vast cooperative scheme for developing the hydro-electric resources of the Alps with the aid of American capital and at a cost which has not yet been determined. Dealing with European oil requirements, the committee recommends that external supplies be substantially reduced by concentrating upon crude oil refining at home instead of upon importing the refined product. Coun- - tries with overseas oil supplies have pledged themselves to the maximum development of their resources.