SAFETY AIR FUEL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 38, 11 January 1946, Page 2

SAFETY AIR FUEL

IMPORTANT NEW DEVELOPMENT

Development of a high octane safety fuel for use in aircraft engines was announced by the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey and Pan American World Airways.

The fuel has all the power of octane gasoline, but is so resistant to accidental ignition that a lighted match can be dropped into it.

The new fuel must be fed by dir reet injection rather than by ordinary carburetion, and it will be necessary to convert the huge engines of postwar Clippers for fuel injection when safety fuel is put into use. unless suitable carburetors are developed. It was explained that after the fuel is injected in the cylinder it is vaporised by heat from compression. Spark plugs are normal.

Cost of Absenteeism Reduction in output through absenteeism was referred to by Mr James Begg chairman of directors of the Westport Coal Company, Ltd., at the annual meeting in Dunedin. The output for the year amounted to 200,651 tons, as against 259,117 tons in 1944. This was partly accounted for by worked-out areas and partly by absenteeism, which was causing concern, he said. One manager had recently reported that five of his truckers had been absent from work for a fortnight, while others had been absent for four, five, six and eight days during the period, contiuued Mr Begg. The Millerton output was also lower because of shortage of labour and absenteeism. The pegging of coal prices, while perhaps necessary, had not been altogether satisfactory, said Mr Begg, and. there were instances of inferior lignite coals fetching the same price as the best Westfield product.