COAL SUPPLIES AND DEMANDS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 4

COAL SUPPLIES AND DEMANDS

MINISTER’S REVIEW DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN CAST MINING (P.A.) WELLINGTON. May 29. ‘i Progress made with the development of open-cast mining in New Zealand in an endeavour to meet the phenomenal demand for coal was discussed by the Minister of Mines .(the Hon. P. C. Webb) to-night. Figures showing the increased consumption of coal were given by the Minister, Who said that since 1936 the amount used by gasworks had increased 30 per cent, wjhile that required for the production of electric power had increased 50 per cent., that by meat freezing works 44 per cent., lime and cement works 61 per cent., and miscellaneous industries 83 per cent. In addition to these increases, the mines had to meet an annual demand of approximately 100,000, tons for military camps, hospitals, and institutions. Since early in 1943 no coal whatever had been received from Newcastle. Australia. The Minister referred to two statements by the Coal Mine Owners’ Association. “The coal mine owners claim that there has been no juggling of figures on their part,” said Mr Webb, “yet I consider tneir statement that there is a possibility 6f a reduction of 300,000-tons in coal production this year simply fantastic and absurd. As a matter of fact, the indications are that there is more likely an increase of that tonnage rather than a reduction. It is obvious that the five collieries referred to by the Coal Owners’ Association are not State collieries, where the output, allowing for the tonnage lost during the go-slow period at the Liverpool and Strongman mines, and notwithstanding the substantial development work being carried out in all State, collieries has, up to now, shown an increase of 2 per cent, on last year. Causes of Reduction “It is true that the output from the Westport Coal Company and the Stockton collieries for tne first four months of this year decreased by 21,249 tons. The inference to be drawn from the mine owners’ statement is that this drop in output was caused almost wholly by absenteeism and other causes attributable to the miners. Actually, the principal cause was the working conditions of these collieries not.lending themselves to the maintenance of the same output as previously. At Denniston and Stockton there is a definite shortage of -working places, due to inadequate development work by private colliery owners, and it is simply not possible to obtain the same output from these mines on that account.” ® Discussing absenteeism, Mr Webb said that official figures released by the Ministry of Fuel in England for 1943 revealed that voluntary absenteeism at the coal face amounted to 6.1 per cent., and involuntary absenteeism among the same workers was 9 per cent. New Zealand figures for the last 48 weeks (the only records available) in respect of the 25 principal collieries were 4.9 per cent, "and 9.3 per cent., voluntary and involuntary absenteeism respectively, for employees at the coal face. Comparative figures for other workers in collieries were as follows; — voluntary absenteeism, 4.9 per cent, in England. 3.5 per cent, in New Zealand; involuntary absenteeism, 7.5 per cent, in England, 6.8 per cent, in New Zealand. Absenteeism “Though I make no attempt to justify absenteeism of a voluntary nature, it is clear from the above figures that the general position here is better than in England. ’ said the Minister. “It should also be remembered that every country in the world to-day is faced with a coal problem, and few, if any of them, have been able to maintain production during the war period, whereas in New Zealand production has increased each year, and there is not the slightest doubt that the optput for this year will set a new record in the history of the Dominion.” The present and future policy of the Mines Department in regard to coal development was also discussed by Mr Webb. "I have every reason -to believe,” he said, “that the continuous annual increase in production that the mines of this country have been responsible for will be exceeded this year. From open-cast mining alone within the next six weeks or two months my department feels justified in stating that more than 2000 tons of coal will be produced daily.” ■ PRODUCTION OF COAL FURTHER STATEMENT BY MINE OWNERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 29. Replying to the statement of Mr A. Prendiville, acting-president of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association said to-day th.at there was no juggling of figures in its statement on dec; eased coal production. The statement had been borne out by the returns from two further mines,

one of which showed in addition a 4 per cent, loss of time through stop--work meetings, knocking off early, and absence without reason, and the other 31 per cent. Referring to the alleged jugglmg with figures, the statement says that the association had asked for returns from all its members, but on the date of publication only five had been received. One showed increased output compared with last year, and four . showed decreases. The net result or the figures was a drop in production of 21,464 tons. Two further returns : made the total drop for the seven mines 30,004 tons. The statements were published, not with the object of provocation as Mr Prendiville suggested, but because the public and the miners themselves were entitle'd to know the facts. "The owners give full credit to miners who ar® . working hard, but there is no credit to those who knock off early ev ■ day, who absent themselves withoif good reason, and who throughout tne , war period have imposed a restriction on output.”