COAL SUPPLIES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16220, 24 May 1918, Page 7

COAL SUPPLIES.

AN EXPERT'S VIEWS,

Speaking to a representative of "The Press" yesterday, Mr Arnaud McKellar, a member of the Goal Board, stated that the shortage of coal was largely the outcome of the shortage of miners and other workers at the mines through so many men enlisting. There was no actual shortage of coal in the mines. The large West Coast bituminous mines, Westport, Stockton, Blackball, State, and Paparoa, were opened up and haa plant and facilities for putting >ut about twice their present output. The same remarks applied to Kaitongata and other of the larger lignite mines in the South. At present there were a great number of lignite mines being operated, and endeavours were being made to increase their outputs. New lignite mines were also being developed, and some, such as tho Broken River mine, were approaching the coal-produc-ing stage. "The feature of these new developments which is least satisfactory," Mr McKellar went on to say, "is that miners and truckers are employed at these mines who, if working in tho large bituminous mines, would produce a greater quantity of ooal of a better economic value and with a more efficient economy of labour. To increase production in new mines simply means taking men from other mines. There aro a number of men employed at the mines in th© transit of the coal from tho miners who hew it, to the railway waggons which carry it, and their numbers are about the same whether tho output is small or large. It is apparont, therefore, that the system of operating a number of small mines whilst the larger onos aro only working at half their capacity, leads to a waste of a class of labonr which is short of requirements throughout tho Dominion. Were the large West Coast mines manned to put out coal to their full capacity first, and then the lignite mines operated each as soon as sufficient men aro trained (, r available, to their full capacity, there is little doubt but that the immediate effect 'would be a moro amplo supply of a better class of coal and a great efficiency effected all round. "The position of the shortage is further complicated by the movement "-n the part of the unions affiliated to tho Red Federation demanding a further increase of 20 per ccnt. in wages, in spito of the fact that they already enjoy a war bonus of per cent, for miners and 20 per cent, for all other workers at the "wines. Tho. average miner's wase is about 22s Gd per day. It should be remembered that tho actual working time required to earn this wage is, on the average, slightly more than six hours, and that work, with few exceptions, is available each day and is not affected by weather conditions. as is the work of carpenters, bricklayers, wharf, nnd general labourers. and other outs-ide workers. In spito of this hirdi wa«ro, thev are suggesting that, unless the further 20 per cent, is granted, a 'go .-slow' policy should bp ar-ain instituted at the mines. Past experience has shown that each increase in wagon ie accompanied by a diminution in output. Thi= factor. xogetfcpr with fhe already hiih cost if production and sale price of coal, makes any further increase in watres a matter foT vim v serious owisidr>rpt?on. as tb*> effect on the public is widespread and productive of a serious increase in the cost of living." J