CARBONISING COAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 650, 30 April 1929, Page 12

CARBONISING COAL

MINISTER OF MINES’ ENTHUSIASM ERECTION OF PLANT (From Our Oivn Correspondent) HAMILTON, Monday. “I am very enthusiastic about the carbonisation principle," said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. W. A. Yeitch. to a deputation from the Huntly Town ! Board this evening, which asked him what possibility there was of the car- j bonisation of coal being oarried out. j Continuing Mr. Yeitch said: “I sincerely think that it will overcome the ; disabilities that arise in every part of j New Zealand. The Government could | not do very much except use its inftu- j ence to persuade the Waikato coal ! companies to establish a plant themselves. It -would not be wise for an outsider to establish a plant." The Minister said he thought the companies should be able to set up a plant very shortly, and if this were done other plants would follow quickly. It only required a demonstration to make a success of the scheme. The Mines Department was fully confident of its success. Speaking at a complimentary dinner tendered to the Minister in the evening, Mr. E. S. Wright, managing director of the Pukemiro Collieries, said that if unanimity could be obtained among the owners a plant would be erected in the Waikato. The slack would be treated first, as only this : could be treated at present. If the inferior grades could be eliminated there was a great future ahead of the industry. I