National Fuel Supplies Vital
Page 31
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S0 :much attention is being devoted to the rail-road controversy and the question as to whether the Salter Report recommendations are to be implemented or otherwise, that other matters of great importance are being sadly neglected; and yet some of these might have a very beneficial effect not only Upon the financial position of the nation as a whole; but, in par ticular, on that of the railways. .
Chief amongst these is the problem, of developing to the fullest extent the home production of fuel. There is every hope that, given the necessary encouragement, sufficient oil fuel could be produced in this country to exercise a profound influence upon the volume of imports.
The production of oil from coal on an economic basis, which has for so long been regarded by many as something of a delusion or a vain hope, would now appear to be within the realms of possibility, whilst interesting and constructive experiments are being carried out in the development of creosote fuel and in the employment of coal-gas or producer gas.
What is really required is the formation of a strong non-political national body, which will have as its sole object the utilization of all our potential fuel assets, a body which can have at its disposal sufficient funds to permit extensive experiments and the encouragement of invention. Half-hearted measures are useless.
It seems almost a crime that Britain should be so dependent upon foreign sources for fuel which is vital to the running of many of its transport services, both by land and sea. Experts have stated that in a time of national emergency, if our overseas lines of communication were cut, the oil-fuel supplies in this country would last for only a week or two, and after that period our position would indeed be critical.
We suggest that •the naval and military authorities should assist in a powerful effort to form . the national body to which we have referred, and instead of the Government devoting the petrol tax to matters entirely extraneous to the transport industry, we propose that a portion of it should be allocated to the subject of fuel research.
There is no doubt that the coal industry would benefit to an extent which it is almost impossible to compute, and the work involved, not only in the increased production of coal, but in the manufacturing processes essential, would do • much to stimulate employment in these and allied industries.