MINING IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21623, 6 November 1935, Page 10

MINING IN N.Z.

Gold and Goal REVIEW OF FOUR YEARS' WORK

A review of coal'and gold mining activity in New Zealand in the last four years was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W- Forbes) in an address at Culverden last evening. Mr Forbes showed how there had been an increase of 200,000 tons in coal production last year, and of £659,000 in gold production since 1931. Many complaints were made about the state of the New Zealand coal industry, said Mr Forbes. It was said that hydro-electric development was lessening the need for coal, and that the number of men employed was continually decreasing. Actually there was now an upward movement in the consumption of ccal. The annual production of ccal in New Zealand since 1931 had been:— Tons. 1931 .. .. 2,157,756 1032 .. .. 1,3 12, 022 1983 .. .. 1,821,258 1034 .. .. 2,000,315 The peak production for New Zealand was 2,547,092 tons, in 1930. Import:; of coal into New Zealand since 1931 had been:— Tons. 1931 .. .. 179,000 1932 .. .. 103,531 1933 .. .. 99,272 1934 .. .. 100,715 The Government's policy had been to use New Zealand coal wherever possible. The Railways Department was now a 100 per cent. user of New Zealand coal, and every effort was made by the Mines Department to induce gas companies and users of steam to adopt as far as possible a similar practice. The State coal mines were in a very sound financial position', and a considerable increase in sales of j State coal had taken place in the last six months. Growth cf Geld Industry To-day gold was the one commodity New Zealand possessed for which there v. as an inestimable demand at record prices. The actual output of gold had increased by a third in the last five years, wnile| the value of the gold produced had increased by 132 per cent. The esti-j mated quantities and values of goid produced in New Zealand in the j iast five years were:—■ Quantity. Value Year. in oz. £ 1930 .. 129.931 499,7-14 1931 .. 129. 801 627,451 1932 .. 105,554 971,734 i:v;:>, .. 151.755 1,053.513 1934 .. 100,218 1,158,007 The number of operating dredges had increased from three in 1930 to 12 in 1984. This was bound to be followed by an appreciable increa e in gold production. It was anticipated that by the end of 1935 there would be 18 or 19 dredges in operation, and within the ne::t two j cars the number was expected to increase to about 30. Tlte productive claims and the dredges in actual operation in the iast live years were as follows: Quartz Alluvial Year. ciaims. claims. Dredges 1980 .. 20 306 3 1951 .. 52 726 5 1932 .. 49 1907 4 1933 .. 51 2410 7 1954 .. 73 4357 12 The number f men engaged in goid mining had increased from i 554 in 1330 \o 6540 in 1934. Notable increases were from 1870 in 1931 to 8036 m 1932 and to 6212 in 1933. J ne large increase in the last two years was caused mainly by the activities of the Unemployment Board hj» subsidising the efforts of more than 3000 prospectors. 'ihe future of gold mining in New Zeaiand lay mainly in the use of modern methods and equipment, which could only be furnished by strong companies possessing ample, financial resources. It was anticipated that developments immediately in view were bound to help appreciably in solving the unemployment problem of the country.