COAL POSITION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 6

COAL POSITION.

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. (special to "the PRESS.") "WELLINGTON, January 31. The Prime Minister has received the following Departmental memo, regarding coal supplies:—■

"The figures relative "to tho outputs of the principal i\ew Zealand mines (and importations) for December now being available, I am in a position to submit for your information a brief review of operations for the year ended December 31st last in comparison with the same period for 1919. The main features for the period mentioned aro as under:

(a) Decrease in outputs of the principal bituminous and semi-bitununous mines for tho year ended December last of H 2,311 tons; (b) in brown coals North Island of 0332; (c) in brown and South Island of 2337; making a totaf shortage for the year of 120,1) SO. "Importations for tho fame period totalled (540,019 tons, as against 455.494 for the year 1919, an increase of 190,525 tons. Deducting tho deficit shown above (120,980) from tho increase in importations, a surplus of 69,545 tons ■ when compared with the figures for last, year is disclosed. This satisfactory result is entirely the outcomo of increased importations from overseas, which for the year ended December 31st last establishes a record for tho Dominion, the next highest point having been reached in 1914, when 518,070 tons were received. "Owing to increased activity on the part of tho Railway Department in respect to foreign coal, the importations for the last three months have been exceptionally heavy, and are as follows: —October, 78,583 tons; November, 33,954 tons; December, 91,075 toils; total for tho three months, 253.612 tons. Jn Octoßer the Railway Department received 44,615 tons of the total imported; in November the Railway Department received 47,529 of the total imported; in December the Railway Department received 59,261 of the totial imported; and the total for the thieo months was 151,405 tons.

"Analysing tho above figures the following position is disclosed: —Australian coal, 10-3,077 tons; American coal, 15,957 tons; Canadian coal, 5933 tons: Japanese coal, 26,438 tons; total on railway account, 151,405 tons. The resnlti of such heavy importations of foreign coal for railway purposes has been of substantial benefit in respect to other industries and services, and has enabled a larger -provision being made from Australian and local coal supplies than would otherwise have been possible; and at much lower rates than those paid by the Railway Department for tho coal in question. "The amount of money sent out of the Dominion to cover the purchase of over half a million tons of coal is a serious item, and I would respectfully submit that special efforts should bo made, if possible, to increase the number of miners in the principal West Coast and other mines during the incoming year, with a view of increasing the outputs from the Dominion mines and lessening our dependence bn outside sources of supply. .It must be conceded that- it is a most unsatisfactory position to ba largely dependent on other countries for coal to carry on our main services and industries, yet this has been our experience for several years past. "In tlie early part of tho year steps ■were taken to secure from all the Dominion mines particulars relating to monthly outputs, with a view of placing before you, 'as soon after the dose of the year as possible, the total putpuls for the Dominion. Owing, however, to so many small mines being situated : n remote country districts, principally in Otago, great difficulty has been" experienced in, collecting the necessary data. I am hopeful, however, that during the next week or two the information outstanding mil be secured, and that I will 'be able to place before you the outputs for the whole of the Dominion mines for the year ended December 81st last.

"The figures submitted herewith relate, as has been frequently stated, to the principal New Zealand mincfe only, but as these include the collieries on wljich our main industries and services depend, and their outputs being dealt with "under permit, the figures submitted consequently cover the main field of operations. Tho outputs of most of the remaining lignite and brown coal mines are absorbed in the districts in which the mines are situated for local domestic use, and consequently have little or no bearing on the general position. In connexion with the falling-off of the outputs of _ the West Coast mines dealt with m the opening paragraph of this report, I would just mention that the mines showing the largest falling-off during the year are ns under: West-port ■Coal Company, 39,435 tons; Point Elizabeth, 42,135 tons (closed); North Br,unner, 4803 tons; Brunner, 3738 tons; Paparoa, 22,3C4 (closed during most of the year, but now reopened); Northern (Auckland), 9689; Hikurangi (Auckland), 13,416; total, 135,515 tons. "On the other hand, the following mines show increases: Liverpool Colliery, 18,993 tons; Stockton, 2178 tons; Blackball, 2033 tons; total, 23.204 tons; the net result being, as already shown, a deficit of 112,311 tons." THE KAITANGATA MEN. A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT. (PBES3 association tei.egram.) , DUNEDIN, January 31.

At a meeting of the Kaitangata Miners' Union a telegram from Mr Arbuekle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, was discussed. The communication stated that the final conference with, tho Prime Minister had proved abortive. The final proposal placed before tho Federation was that a board, consisting of Messrs J. Bishop, 11. iSemple, and G. ISliott, be set Ut» to enquire into the whole position ana decide whether Henderson (Blackball) was rightly dismissed, the Board's decision to be final.

The Kaitangata Miners' Union came to no decision at the morning meeting, but they met again at night and agreedl to accept the proposed Board, it is understood that if tho BLackball Union agrees to the setting up of tho Board, the Kaitangata men will resume work. In the meantime the mines are still idle.