MINING YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 5

MINING YEAR.

MINISTER'S REVIEW. GOLD-DREDGING INDUSTRY. " SITUATION PROMISING." 'By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "It is. interesting to record that the quantity of gold exported during the year was the largest for the past 13 years," stated the Minister of Mines, i the Hon. P. C. Webb, in the Mines Statement tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister described the situation in regard to gold I dredging in New Zealand as "very pro* I' mising." Quantities and values of the production lof metalliferous mines, stone quarries | and coal mines for the year 1935 were I set out by the Minister. The eorres- | ponding figures for 1934 are given in I parentheses: Gold and jilver, 003,2440z, £1,300,040 (542,8030z), £1,195,840); platinum, 14oz, £79 ( —); pig-iron, 4902 tons, £23,775 (1337 tons, £0484); stone valued at £289,274 (£201,037); pumice, 3300 tons. £8709 (2491 tons, £0790); coal, 2,1.15,184' tons. £2,115,184 (2,000,315 tons, £2,000,315); tungsten ore, 39 tons 7cwt, £4719 (39 tons, £4078); quicksilver, 5031b, £132 (3852-lb, £510). The total value was £3,741,978, as against £3,530,200 in 1934. The value of minerals, including kauri gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion amounted to £3,094,480, as compared with £3,482,490 during 1934. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1935 amounted to £192,208,337. The estimated gold production was set by Mr. Webb for the past six years as follows: 1930, 120,9310z; 1931, 129,801oz; 1932, 100,3540z; 1933, 101,7550z; 1934, 100,248oz; 1935, 105,2770z. Quartz mining showed an increase, mainly due to the figures for 1934 being abnormally low because of industrial troubles. The gold output of the principal individual producer, the Martha mine, dropped to 52,5410z, while the Waihi Grand Junction mine, which is worked in conjunction with the Martha mine, yielded 55970z. "Dredging activities produced 32,0G20z, , an increase of 79700z over the figure for the previous year. The situation in regard to dredging is very promising. In 1933 there were seven dredges working in New Zealand.' At the end of 1935 15 were operating, three were temporarily idle, and seven were under construction. At the time of writing 18 are operating, three are idle and four are under construction. A further gratifying fact is that most of the companies operating new dredges have already paid dividends." "During the present I propose to bring down a comprehensive bill involving a number of further amendments to the Mining Act, 1920," stated the Minister. "I have already circularised all interested parties asking for suggestions, and a very large number of proposals have been received. These are ibeing very carefully investigated, and later I intend to submit the draft bill to a conference of all mining interests."