OPEN-CAST COAL 41 PER CENT. MUCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 226, 24 September 1945, Page 5

OPEN-CAST COAL 41 PER CENT. MUCK

RAILWAY MANAGER’S STATEMENT (P.A.) ’ Auckland, Sept. 23. “In the last financial year we used 93,000 tons more coal than wo did in 1939 to run 90,000 fewer miles. You can think that over, and lift your hats to it if you want to,” said the general manager of New Zealand Railways, Mr. J. Sawers, at a jubilee re-union of the Railway Officers’ Institute. The department at present had only 7500 tons of coal in reserve for the whole of the Dominion. That was less than four day’s supply, and on one day a week ago the stock amounted to only 5600 tons. Speaking of the quality of presentday coal, Mr. Sawers said the consumption increased from 641 b to SOln an engine mile in the last year. The proportion of “hard,” or West Coast coal used was only 35 per cent, compared with 60 per cent, beiore the war. None of it. even “hard” coal, was screened. He had seen three trucks of coal at Dunedin from an open cast mine at Ohai. It looked al - right on the top, but underneatn was rock and muck.

“I ajn not talking polities, hut open cast coal from Otorohanga and Waitewhenu is 41 per cent ash. and the war and the railways service is paying for it,” added Mr. Sawers. He said he was speaking not only for the benefit of railwaymen, but for the public. (See earlier story on Page 4.)