The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1926. THE COAL BOARD’S REPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 20 March 1926, Page 8

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1926. THE COAL BOARD’S REPORT

“During’ tlie trials it, was conclusively shown,” says the report of the Board of Inquiry into the use of New Zealand coal on the Dominion’s railways, “that favourable results could be obtained by the use of mixtures of various New Zealand coals, and that New Zealand coals by themselves would be unsuitable, but gave fair results when mixed. Further, mixtures of Newcastle coals with New Zealand coals gave excellent results.” The report of the Board of Inquiry makes interesting and illuminating- reading. For many years the Domrnion lias imported large quantities of coal, principally for railway use, as the following returns show: Tons. 1921 822,459 ]922 ... 501,478 1923 445,792 1924 674,483 ’ It is generally agreed, of course, that af possible, New Zealand coal should be used in preference to the imported article, but the Board of Inquiry failed to realise that the “importation habit,” if it can be so called, was created by the threatening attitude of the miners, who some time ago fancied that they could seize the opportunity of a. shortage , of supplies to hold the community at ransom and exact their own terms for the settlement of the dispute. Not since has there been a coal shortage! As the report of the Board says, “the utilisation of New. Zealand t >:il iir place of imported coal would result iu a. general impre-u-meuif in the labour and financial situation and consequently the object aimed at, provided it can be achieved without a compensating loss in the operations of the railways. Moreover, the report claims, the use of New Zealand coal would in many cases result in an actual direct saving in railway management. It is recognised that every centre must he considered separately, because the cost of transporting, storing, and possibly mixing, and the requirements of the varied traffic, would all have to be considered by the fuel engineer whoso appointment was recommended in order 1 that a proper solution of each phase of the problem could be obtained. Getting down to bedrock, however, the report makes it quite clear that the vital question the Board was constituted to examine lias yet to be decided by experts. “The whole question of the coal supply for the New Zealand railways,” says the report, “is of such magnitude and complexity, and the financial aspect so important that we strongly recommend that this branch of the railway management should he placed under the control of a technically trained and qualified fuel engineer, who’ would he responsible for the purchase and economic use of all coal necessary. The Board is of the opinion that if such an officer were instructed to use every endeavour to overcome any difficulties met in utilising New Zealand coals it would he found within a very short time that very little coal would need to he imported, and great economy in the fuel bill would be effected. The Board is further of the opinion that the maximum economy in the use of coal cannot be attained unless this, recommendation is carried out. It is interesting to note that, new locomotives can conveniently he designed to ho used with New Zealand coal. With one uniter! voice the people of the Dominion will endorse the Board’s statement that the “advantages of New Zealand using New Zealand coal are undeniable.” The Board of Inquiry has rendered an invaluable public service in submitting such a, useful report on a. vital industry, but it remains to be seen if the Minister of Railways will accept the x’eeommendations embodied in the report, hut since tests have convinced the Board of Inquiry that quite a number of New Zealand coals are suitable for the railways, au immediate pronouncement by the Prime Minister may he expooted, more particularly iii view of the periodic dull state of tho coal mining industry, and the desirability of cutting- down imports to the lowest point in order to restore the balance of trade in favour of New Zealand, and thus provide more constant employment for the workers engaged in the industry.