COAL FOR VICTORIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 6

COAL FOR VICTORIA

40,000 TONS FROM BRITAIN NEEDS OF THE RAILWAYS Difficulties in obtaining coal of a sufficiently high quality to use in conjunction with coal from the Victorian State mine at Wonthaggi have resmlted in the Railways Department placing an order for 40,000 tons from Scottish, Welsh and Northumberland mines. The cost approximately £IOO,OOO is one-third greater than that of an equal weight of the best Maitland (New South Wales) coal. The first shipment will arrive early in September, and the remainder, will come in five shipments at weekly intervals. With continued supplies of coal from the Wonthaggi mine, operated by the Railways Department, this quantity alone should last the Victorian railways services for about five months, burning it at the rate of 260 tons a day to 540 tons of Wonthaggi coal. In the absence of the chairman of commissioners, Mr H. W. Clapp, on a country inspection, officers of the Railways Department declined to comment on tiie departmental policy in regard to coal supplies. It is known, however, that efforts are being made to obtain coal from as many sources as possible, both within and outside the Commonwealth, to guard against the danger of Ihe failure of a- single source of supply. New Zealand cannot produce sufficient coal to supply the department, but tests are now being made with Queensland coal, and it is expected that supplies may later be sought from this* source. The South Australian railways are using large quantities of Queensland coal to amplify their other supplies. 11l the meantime, the usual reserve of three months’ supply is being maintained by the Railways Department against any sudden fillet nation of supply. No curtailment of services is expected.