§ 44. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary for Mines what is the present monthly production of high- 1056 temperature and low-temperature coal tar, respectively; and what proportions of these products are being refined into motor spirit and other liquid fuels?
§ Mr. SHINWELLRecent official statistics are not available, but from estimates furnished to the Mines Department it appears that during each of the past two or three years from 320,000 to 350,000 tons of creosote oils were obtained by the distillation of coal tar, and approximately 3,000,000 gallons of benzol. It is not known what proportion of the creosote oils were used for fuel purposes. In addition to these products, 28,000,000 to 30,000,000 gallons of benzol were obtained from the gas generated at coke ovens and gas works. Separate particulars are not available for high and low temperature processes, but in the present state of development of low temperature carbonisation, the quantity of oil fuels produced by such processes cannot be large in proportion to the country's consumption.