FUTURE OF COAL INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 2

FUTURE OF COAL INDUSTRY

MINISTER OPTIMISTIC

THE CARBONISATION - PROCESS./

-.--0 :\l

WELLINGTON,! August 14,

The valuable .work' being done in the utilisation of carbonised and powdered coal led the ‘Hon W. A. Veitcli, Minister of Mines, to suggest in the House to-day that the coal mining industry of the Dominion might yet conic back to its former prosperity. Very valuable work had, lie said, been .done in regard to carbonisation.

Mr Howard Ohristahurch South): Why are we not doing our own re search work ?

The Minister replied that a failamount of work. was being done in New Zealand, 'but he would admit that they wore, largely guided by the work of- other An officer of the' Mines Department had been sent to Canada to investigate the use of powdered coal and of the carbonisation process. The Minister’s advisers were of opinion that in- Now Zealand the conditions- were such as made it' almost a certainty that carbonisation would meet requirements and fill our needs morC" perfectly than any other process, but no method would be disregarded, for. every possible avenue of progress would be explored. “I have every reason to believe,” lie added, “that before many months are over the problem of carbonisation will at least begin to be solved.”

The annual report of the State coal mines had been under discussion, and the .Minister, replying to comment, btated that some of the equip mont at the mines irti-s in- need ol renewal. ' The present' l plant was very costly in working. It' might be found desirable to scrap tlie existing machinery. for it looked as if considerable economy could lie shown by scrapping and replacement by imore efficient plant: In any case the necessity of renewing some of the plant would have to ibe given on refill consideration during the recess.