COAL FOR VICTORIA

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 2

COAL FOR VICTORIA

40,000 TONS FROM BRITAIN.

NEEDS OF THE RAILWAYS.

Difficulties in obtaining coal of a sufficient high quality to use in conjunction with coal from the Victorian State mine at Wonthaggi have resulted in the Railways Department placing an order for 40,000 tons from Scottish, Welsh and Northumbcrlan.l mines. The cost, approximately £lOO,OOO, is one-third greater than that of an equal weight of the best' Maitland (New South Wales) coal. The first shipment will arrive early in September, and the remainder will come in five shipments at weekly intervals. With continued- supplies of coal from the Wonthaggi mine, operated by the Railways Department, this quantity alone should last the Victorian railways services for about five months, burning it at the rate of 260 tons a day to 540 tons of Wonthaggi coal. In the absence ;of :the chairman of commissioners, Mr. H. W. Clapp, on a country inspection, officers of the Railways Department declined to comment on the departmental policy in regard to coal supplies. It is known, however, that efforts are being made to obtain coal from ag many sources as possible, both within and outside the Commonwealth, to guard against the danger of the failure of a single source of supply. New Zealand cannot produce sufficient coal to satisfy, local requirements, and is unable to supply the department, but tests are now being made with Queensland coal, and it is expected that supplies may later ■be sought from this source. The South Australian railways are using large quantities of Queensland coal to amplify their other supplies. In the meantime the usual reserve of three months’ supply is being maintained by the Railways Department against any sudden fluctuation of supply. No curtailment of services is expected.