VERY BRIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 22 July 1929, Page 4

VERY BRIGHT

NEW ZEALAND COAL OUTLOOK IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS DISTILLING PLANTS TO BE ESTABLISHED ) illy T'aletfranti —Special u> "I’lia Mail”) CHRISTCHURCH, 21st July. Important developments in the coal industry in New Zealand were indicated by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. W. A. Veitch,. in up interview last night. These developments, which relate mainly to the use of slack, which now is practically a waste product from the mines, will result in the introduction of a great deal of capital to the Dominion and employment for a number of men. .Mr Veitch added that there had been a very \ important development in the North Island, where, the mine owners of the Waikato had combined and formed a company to establish a plant which would treat the slack from the Waikato mines. This promised to be a very valuable industiy to the Dominion. Negotiations are also in progress, added the Minister, for the establishment of a coal distilling plant in the Wellington district. It was now practically certain that this would be established. Among the products of .this plant might be fuel oil.' Further evidence of the moves taking place in the coal industry was furnished by Mr Veitch when he mentioned that negotiations were in progress which might culminate in the establishment of extensive coal distilling plants in other parts of the Dominion. He gave it as his opinion that the outlook for the coal trade was bright. Various methods would be adopted at these plants, he said, but the negotiations under way were in connection with the utilisation of brown coals.“There is no danger of a coal shortage,” said Mr Veitch. “The coal is coming in well and miners on the West Coast are doing remarkably well in keeping, the people supplied.”* In this connection a record was established on Saturday, when 3000 tons of coal and timber were brought over from the West Coast. All this had to pass through the Otira tunnel, which was designed to handle 1000 tons a day.