TOO MANY MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 5

TOO MANY MINES.

WITHHOU>ING OF LEASES. MINISTER . STATES POLICY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.' Recognising that there are too many mines in operation, the Government has recently decided not to grant any more coal leases, but consideration will be given to any applications in respect of an area or areas which are isolated and which need coal to supply only local requirements. This sentence appears in the Mines Statement presented to Parliament yesterday. The report mentions that during last financial year 1276 licenses for mining privileges were issued, as compared with 544 for the' previous year. Of the total number issued 281 were licenses for claims authorising . the holders to mine for gold. Seven.companies were engaged in boring for oil in several parts of the Dominion, the aggregate footage bored being 11,288 ft A total production of 111,568 gallons of oil was obtained from two wells at New Plymouth. The total production of crude petroleum oil to December SI, 1931, was estimated at 1,669,728 gallons. • During the year ended December SI, 1931, 2,157,756 tons of coal were produced from the mines operating in the Dominion, or a decrease of 384,336 tons when compared with the previous year's figures. The Minister stated that the cause of the decreased production might be attributed to lower consumption by railways, gas works, steamers, and by the general public, and also to the increased competition in consequence of the use of fuel oil and electricity for power, heating, and lighting purposes.