CLOSING OF MINE IMMINENT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23351, 10 June 1941, Page 6

CLOSING OF MINE IMMINENT

COMPANY’S DECISION V DIFFICULTY WITH WATER AT BLACKBALL (F.0.0.R) GREYMOUTH, June 9. The cessation of production by the Blackball Coal Mines Proprietary, Ltd., at Blackball, one of the oldest operating mining plants on the West Coast; is imminent because of the high overhead, cost of production. The company’s original workings were worked out some years ago, and three or four years ago a new development plan was adopted on an adjoining area at considerable cost to the company. A drive was put in and a new area opened up, but .ever since the seam was .struck the greatest difficulty has been experienced in keeping the workings clear of water, necessitating incessant pumping at a high cost, while only a minimum quantity of coal, about 100 tons daily, could be produced. The peak production of the old mine was as. high as 1000 tons daily. More than 70 men will be thrown out of employment in the event of no further development after the com--party’s decision to close the mine per; manerttly. The Blackball Company has been operating in this field f/fethe last 47 years, and during that tiraehas produced more than 4,500,000 tons of bituminous coal. The closing down of the mine will have a most serious effect on the township of Blackball and the district generally; Apart from the Paparoa mine at Boa, where a number of men living in Blackball .are engaged, there is only one other small mine, the Blackball Creek Coal Company at Blackball, where only 20.men are engaged. This small mine has been operating for the last 10 years. It is definite that the Blackball Company will not i continue production because of the heavy overhead cost brought about by flooding in the mine and the only possibility of its continuing ih operation would be by a State enV-rprise. Although there is no surety of this eventuating it is understood that the matter is being held in abeyance for a few days until a definite decision* can be made in this connexion. In the event of the closing of the mine it will be possible that other dis-. trlct mines will-be in a position to absorb a great number of the Idle men because of the existing demand for experienced miners.