Reduction In Work At Coalmine

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 24

Reduction In Work At Coalmine

(From Out Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, February 4. Because a record 18,000 tons of coal are stockpiled, miners at the Strongman State mine will work a nine-day fortnight from tomorrow.

The mine, the biggest underground colliery in the country, employs nearly 300 men. The district manager of State coal mines in the Grey Valley (Mr J. W. Lundon), said today that there was no reasonable prospect of disposing of the full Strongman production. Increased winter sales of household coal would not help as this was screened coal and there was no comparable industrial demand for the residual slack coal. The other major Grey Vallay mine, the Liverpool State colliery at Rewanui, is run-

ning more economically, and is meeting a continued demand for its coal, mainly through the Christchurch Gas Company which has an overseas export order for its coke. Liverpool is also handling some of the orders which had previously been filled by the Dobson colliery before it was closed. West Coast privately-owned coal mines are facing a serious situation. Several mines have been forced to curtail production and one of the larger co-operative mines has produced little coal since October.