Whitstable Congregational Young People Society: The Society had on the 7th inst. great pleasure in listening to a lecture by Mr. A. Pinsent, M.A., B.Sc., of London on “The Future of Motive Power” which gave those present valuable information and much to think about. The lecturer at the beginning said that his aim was to show how absolutely dependent industry was on some cheap prime mover. For the last 150 years all the resources of this country had been directed towards manufacturing and the present age might well be called the machinery age. The success of any industry depends upon any material that can be converted into fuel, and that material at present is coal. Now coal, as everyone is aware, has taken millions of years to form. Already we are using it much faster than it was made, and the consumption is increasing, which means that if continued our coal supply will not last more than another 150 years. Our engineers and chemists, knowing this, are trying to find a lasting substitute, and owing to their efforts we are just beginning a time when coal is being displaced. The American coal price has been reduced because at the present time they have plenty, but the English coal price has increased, our coal being less plentiful and more difficult to get and is the cause of some of our industrial problems. In an open grate heat and by-products are wasted. The gases given off coal if properly treated will give the basis nearly 2,000 chemical substances. This is already being done in some gas works. Again, we have the same trouble with oil. A few years ago, America exported oil, now she imports it and it is said that oil may not outlast coal. What appears to be one solution to the difficulty is the development of waterpower electricity schemes as is done in Switzerland. One disadvantage we have in England is the lack of hills to give “head” or force to water to drive machines, but it is interesting to note that schemes such as the Severn and Thames barrage are put forward. When coal is burned, we get a chemical reaction, certain atoms of coal join certain atoms of air which generates energy in the form of heat. Radium and similar bodies split up into smaller atoms thereby generating head: can it be harnessed? A wide field for exploration: It is quite easy to see that a country that does not get ample supplies of fuel cannot keep its place in industry. In fact, unless it gets a constant cheap supply it cannot carry on. The Statesman’s duty at present is to ensure this supply. The Peace Treaty might well be called a coal treat, as many of the clauses have reference to coal or other fuel. Unless this question of fuel and motive power is settled, we cannot hope for freedom from war. It’s quite possible that in the future a commission may be formed to ration raw materials that all nations need.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0072 Tiverton: Arthur Pinsent: 1888 – 1978