THE COAL PROBLEM

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160794, 30 October 1920, Page 5

THE COAL PROBLEM

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY SUPPLY. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 29. Suggestions forwarded by the Auckland City Council to the Prime Minister on the subject of the coal problem during the recent coal shortage, evoked from Mr Massey a reply at length, which was put before the Council meeting to-night. In the subject of the export of bituminous coal, ho points out that of 270,000 tons exported last year none was for trade purposes, but 15,662 tons were for the Admiralty, and the balance for bunkering oversea vessels shipping the Dominion’s produce. To the statement that Auckland had not been getting an adequate supply of Westport coal, Mr Massey replied that Auckland had supplies readily available from the AVaikato and northern colleries, as well as from Newcastle, making it more favourably situated than other cities in New Zealand. AVellington was dependent almost on AVestport coal -hipped weekly, and subject to delays ow’ng to bar conditions at AVest t.oasr ports. On the subject of the production of coal the Prime Minister said that everything possible was done to increase the output, but until there were enough miners to man the existing mines little improvement could be effected by opening new fields. It was hoped that steps at present being taken would result in a number of miners arriving in New Zealand in the near future. Until the production of the Dominion was materially increased, every possible effort must be made by the Government to obtain additional supplies from Newcastle and elsewhere, even at the present high cost. Replying to suggestions from the Council as to the supply of hydro-electrio power, the Prime Minister stated that the saving last year in Canterbury,through the Lake Coleridge scheme, as compared with previous methods of generating power, was over 120,000 tons of coal, or its equivalent in kerosene or petrol. The position in Auckland district was that the Horahora plant of 8000 h.p. capacity was too small to justify running the mains further north than Hamilton. Even if extended to the capacity of say 12,000 h.p. this would only justify its extension north to Huntly. Pending the supply from Arapuni, at night and on Sundays, there would be a large amount of spare power—from 2000 to 3000 h.p.—which could be utilised to save, say, 15,000 to 20,000 tons of coal a year,' if joined up with Auckland City or other plant of sufficient capacity to give this demand at night. A single transmission line from Horahora to Auckland would cost ,£150,000, but its construction could not be recommended unless the Government obtained a guarantee of a minimum of ,£15,000 a year for the supply of 2000 h.p. for 10 hours a day, namely from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., at $d a unit. The Prime Minister added that if the Council was prepared to consider any such proposal, a conference with the Public Works Department could be arranged.