THE COAL SUPPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9432, 1 February 1921, Page 2

THE COAL SUPPLY.

OUTPUT FROM THE WINES. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER, i (Per Preit Association.) WELLINGTON, January 31. The Prime Minister has received the following Departmental memo, regarding coal supplies : — "The figures relative to the outputs of the principal New Zealand mines (and importations) for December now being available, 1 am m a position to submit for your information a brief review of operations for the year ended December HI last m comparison with the same period for 1919. The main features for the period mentioned are as under : — (a) .Decrease m outputs of the principal bituminous and semi-bituminous mines for the year ended December last of 112,311 tons ; (b) m brown coals North Island of 6332 ; (c) m brown and lignites South Island of 2337; making a total sHbrtage for the year of 120,980. "Importations for the same period totalled 646,019 tons, as against 455,494 for the year 1919, an increase of 190,525 tons. Deducting the deficit shown above (120,980) from the increase m importations, a surplus of 69,545 tons when compared with the figures for last year is disclosed. This satisfactory result is entirely the.outcome of increased importations , .from overseas, which for the year ended December 31 last establishes a record for the Dominion, the next highest point having been reached m 1914, when 518,070 tons were received. Reoemt Importations. "Owing to increased activity on the part of the Railway Department m respect to foreign coal, the importations for the last three months have been exceptionally heavy, and are as foliows: — October, 78,583 tons; November, 83,854 tons; December, 91,075 tons; total for the three months, 253,612 tons. In October the Railway Department received 44,615 tons of 1 the total imported ; In November the Railway Department received 47,529 of the total imported; m December the Railway Department received 59,261 of the total imported ; and the total for the three months was 151,405 tons. "Analysing the above figures the following position is disclosed: — Australian coal, ',103,077 tons ; American coal, 15,957 tons; Canadian coal, 5933 tons; Japanese coal, 26,438 tons; total on ranway account, 151,405 tons. The result of such heavy importations of foreign coal for railway purposes has been of substantial benefit m respect to other industries and services, and has enabled a larger provision, being made from Australian and local coal supplies than would otherwise have been possible, and at much lower rates than those paid by the Railway DeI pa^tm&nt for the coal m question.

"iiie amount of money sent out of .the i>ominion to cover the' purchase of over half a million tons ot coal is a serious item, and I would respectfully suonut tiidt special efforts should be made, if possible, to increase the number of miners m the principal West Coast and other mines during the incoming year, with a view of increasing the outputs from the Dominion mines and lessening our dependence on outside sources of supply. It must be cbnceded that it is a most unsatisfactory position to be largely dependent on other countries for coal to carry on our main services and industries, yet tins lias been our experience for several years past.

Census of Coal Output. "In the early part of the year, steps were taken to secure from all the Dominion mines particulars relating to, monthly outputs, with a view of placing berore you, as soon after the close lof tne year as possible, the total outputs for the Dominion. Owing, however, to co many small mines being situated m remote country districts, prinoipally m Otago, great difficulty has feeed experienced m collecting the necessary data. I am hopeful, howerer, that during the next week or two the information outstanding will be secured, and that -I will be able to place before you the outputs for the whole of the Dominion mines for the year ended December 31 last.

"The figures submitted herewith re-

• •>"«, }\ (xaa been frequently stated, to 0i« principal Wew Zealand mines only, out c 6 tuese include the collieries on which our main industries and services depend, and their outputs being dealt with under permit, the figures submitted consequently cover the main field of operations. The outputs of most of ♦he remaining lignite and brown coal mines are absorbed m the districts m which the mines are situate*? for local domestio use, and consequently hare little or no bearing on the general position. In connection with the fall-ing-off of the outputs of West Coast mines dealt with m the opening paragraph of this report, I would just mention that the mines showing the largest falling-off during the year are as under :— -Westport Coal Company, 89,435 tons; Point Elizabeth, 42.135 tons (closed); North Branner, 4608/ [tons; Brunner, 3738 'tons; Paparoa. 122,394 (closed during most of the year, but now reopened); Northern (Auckland), 9689; Hikurangi (Auckland), 13,416; total, 135,515 tons. "On the other hand, the following mines "show increases : Liverpool Colliery, 18,993 tons; Stockton, 217S tons; Blackball, 2033 tons; total, 23,204 tons; the net result being, as already shown, a deficit of 112,311 tons." ■•■. .