INTELLIGENT USE OF COAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 6

INTELLIGENT USE OF COAL.

More intelligent use of coal has given new life and energy to one of Britain’s great industries. Science has provided the means of eliminating wastage of energy and allowed coal to meet its competitors on more equal terms. To a considerable extent the coal problems of Britain are also the problems of New Zealand, and developments in the economical utilisation of coal overseas are being watched with interest in the Dominion. For years by far the greater part of the energy contained in coal has been going up chimneys all over the world. Coal could hold its ground when it was practically the only commercial fuel, but oil and electricity have brought about a great change.

Recognising the need to be up and doing if competition was to be met successfully, the British Coal Utilisation Council set to work to instinct the public in the most economical and effective methods of using coal. Radical changes have been made in furnaces and other appliances throughout the country, and particular classes of coal have been diverted to their most effective uses. The result is a great economy in coal, estimated by the council at 1,500,000 tons a year. At first glance it might seem that Jhis was a disadvantage to the producers of coal, but in fact the demand for coal has been accelerated tremendoush\

Industries that were turning away from coal to the use of other fuels have in many cases come back, and coal and its derivatives arc finding their way into new spheres. Coal oil, gas and powdered fuels and many other by-products are finding a ready market, and the coal industry in general is more optimistic than it has been for years. And Britain’s coal resotu'o%ni are vitally important, especially in view of the threat of war, since a commercial domestic supply of petroleum is not yet available. Therefore it is comforting to know that coal may in a case of extreme emergency be capable of keeping the wheels of British industry turning, even should overseas supplies of fuel be cut off by an enemy Power.