OUTPUT OF COAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 201, 3 June 1940, Page 3

OUTPUT OF COAL

MINISTER EXPECTS INCREASE. EFFECT OF AUSTRALIAN STRIKE. (Special to the “Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, June 2. His confidence that the peoplo of New Zealand could look forward to an increase in' coal production was expressed by the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. 6. Webb) in an interview. He said that the recent agreement between the colliery owners 'and the miners had given the miners p. small increase in wages. The necessity, he stressed, was to provide suitable accommodation on the mining fields for miners l who were offering their services. While many miners had sought employment they were unable to accept it because of the lack of accommodation, said Mr Webb. He had promised the men that he would take the question of accommodation up with the Government and owners immediately, the proposal being to rush to the districts suitable hutments to cope with emergency cases. The miners of New Zealand, through their representatives 1 , had expressed the utmost willingness to co-operate 100 per cent, with the Government in producing the coal essential for the country’s needs. However, they alleged that especially in the Waikato, they were obliged to live in huts and tents without any sanitary arrangements. ‘ ‘lf more men are taken into the mines production will soon be increased sufficiently to meet all our national wants without any fear of a shortage, said Mr Webb. Where miners were working on Saturdays, arrangements had been made by the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to convey them to and from their work. 8000 Tons Sent Overseas. Questioned on the point' that coal exports to Australia during the mining strike there might have contributed to the shortage for domestic purposes in the Dominion, Mr Webb said that only about 8000 tons of coal necessary for troop ships and food convoy ships had been sent to Australia. Ihe Government had felt that its first duty was to make coal available wherever it could be most advantageously used for the country in the great struggle. No more coal was to be sent to Australia now that the strike had been settled. In spite of the enormous expansion of the consumption of coal New Zealand would have been in a safe position for supplies had the Australian strike not taken place, for supplies were usually drawn from there at this time of the year. The new State mine at Mangapeka, near Te Kuiti, had begun production. Already it was producing between 20 and 30 tons a day, and the rate would be increased fairly rapidly. Within the next fortnight coal -would be produced from a second new mine at Okura, beyond Stratford, and the supply would be a great' boon to Taranaki, as well as relieving the demand on rolling stock from the Waikato mining district.

The Government was doing its utmost to push on with the work of ensuring a constant and certain supply of coal.