POLICY REVISED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 10

POLICY REVISED

Statement by Minister of Mines FUTURE INTENTIONS Comic-Opera Methods To Be Discouraged Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Match 1. The future policy of the Government in the development of eoal and gold mining in the Dominion was outlined by the Minister of Mines, Hou P. C. Webb, in a statement issued to-night He said the Government intended t“ pay close attention to the methods of production and to promote the increased use in New Zealand of the focal coal. It would conduct a vigorous campaign to further this end. The opening of new mines, however, would be curtailed as far as possible, and it was hoped means would be found to utilise as far as possible slack coal which was at present- being dumped and wasted.

His department, he said, was to cooperate with the Department of Scientific amf Industrial Research in obtaining information from all over the world of the methods of extracting oil from coal.

Steps would be taken to improve methods of production so as to eUniin ate waste and a special attempt would be made to deal with eoal mine (ires. It was hoped to establish at least one mollern rescue station in.the coal mine field. Mr. Webb also stated that the Government was anxious to improve the living conditions of the miners. Another phase which the Government regarded as most important was that presented by State coal mines. The Government intended to continue with these.

Referring to t.lie possibility of extracting oil from coal, he said that the mining interests would have to be in tune with the latest developments abroad. Such developments would entail the outlay of large sums on most expensive modern machinery. Comic opera methods of mining would have to be abandoned; they could only lead to disaster. The Government intended to make gold-mining less of a gamble. Speculation would be severely discouraged. Scientific methods would be applied to the location and extension of new lodes and attention would be paid to the improvement of the conditions of the miners. Industrial harmony would be sought. The Mines Department also intended to assist a diamond-boring company operating on the West Coast. Mr. Webb predicted that within two years over 40 gold-mining dredges would be producing gold. The development in this direction would be entirely new. The extent to which dredges were able to operate, the depth of their working, and their low cost made them ideal for the purpose. The Government was about to instal a new hydro-electric scheme on the West Coast to develop this aspect of gold mining.