RISING COSTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 86, 21 January 1938, Page 3

RISING COSTS.

NEW ZEALAND COALMINES. OWNERS URGE PROTECTION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 20. Dealing with the importation of coal into New Zealand, Mr O. C. D'avis, president of the Coal Mine Owners Association, at the annual meeting ol the. Association, emphasised that toe much coal was imported. There hau been no diminution over the last five or six years, he said. In fact, the 1936 figures were the highest for five years 111,078 tons. With the coal resources New Zealand, possessed, it -was entirely wrong that even this quantity should find its wav to New Zealand markets from overseas, he said. With the higher wages, shorter hours, and costly conditions the industry had to bear in this cuntry, some measure of protection, should be provided to enable this consideiable tonnage to be provided from New Zealand’s own mines. The little extra distance from Newcastle afforded no protection, for transport hosts from the West Coast to. say, Auckland, were just as high, or higher. Referring to the improved trading conditions in 1937, some of which were reflected in the coal industry, Mr Davis said that unfortunately the evermounting cost cf mining, and, to an almost equal extent, the cost of tiansport necessitated higher prices fer coal, ,and for this reason much of the benefit, of returning prosperity found its way to competitive sources of heat and power rather than the coal industry. The existing mines in New Zealand were fully equipped and capable of supplying New Zealand’s full requirements, and it; was therefore very obvious that the opening of any further mines was unnecessary and would only add to the difficulties of the existing companies, without affording benefit to anyone. . , Miners were now earning good wages, he added, and when the tune came for a renewal of their agreement it was hoped that the miners’ organisation would recognise the impossibility of loading further costs on to the owners, which would only jeopardise the industry that found them employment.