MINERS' OUTPUT

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1917, Page 7

MINERS' OUTPUT

MR. WEBB'S CONTENTIONS.

The statement was made by ]Vlr. P. C. Webb, M.P., that' -though- tire number of miners has decreased by 17 per cent., the output has been'increased' by '25' per cent., and the output per man is now a world's record. This does not appear to-be borne out by available statistics. In 1915, according to the annual Mines Statement, the output for\New Zealand was 2,206,624 tons, against 2,275,593 tons in 1914, a decrease of -66,969 tons. In the same period there was a decrease in the number of men employed in coal-min-ing of 578, from 4734 v to 4156. This does not, of coufse, mean that the de^ crease was in hewers only. General suQ tistics for 1916 are not available, but for the twelve months ended 30tll September, 1916, the output of the Westport Coal Corhpanies' mines was 512,686 tons against 615,184 tons for the corresponding period end^ed 30th September, 1915. This is not regarded as being attributable to a " go-slow " policy wholly, but to the shortage of men and conditions connected with internal workings. At the same time it indicates that in these mines, and others are in practically the same position, there has not jbeen the increased output claimed by Mr. Webb. As to the output per man beiilgi a record, comparative figures publishfed recently indicated that America held the record in this connection, with Canada, Australia, New Zealand," and the United Kingdom following in that order; but a comparison with other countries must be conditional,, since Ihc nature of the mines and the machinery employed may make a very great difference in the quantity of coal taken out.

Several Southern mine managers, at present in Auckland, refei-red to the statements made by Mr. P. p. Webb, M.P., in regard to the cost of producing coal in iTew Zealand. In reference the statement that the coat of "getting" coal here was lower than in other,cdimiries, the following figures for 1912 were quoted, the prices being the c6st of producing coal from the mine to the pithead, all charges, bucli as administration, in' eluded:-^-United: Kingdom, 9s C^d per ton; America, Id; Australia, 7s 6|d; jfeW Zealand, 10s llfd.. In regard to the output of coal per man per annum the law arftiiabl* fiptfes .wera quoted -as' follows :—United Kingdonjj .244 .tone; the output having been reduced owing to a strike (Atnerica.i.66o";-. "Aus'traliaj 642; New Zealand, 503. It waß pointed out that in many of the 1 mines in the Dominion coal was more easily worked than in other parts 6f the world.