THE COAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 8

THE COAL INDUSTRY

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The chairman of the Coalmine Owners' Association expressed tlio opinion that the main cause of the coal-mining industry not paying at prosent was that; there were too many coalmines operating and over-produc-tion. I agree that there are too many mines operating __ under tho present Mine Owners' "" Association, whoso methods of management and distribution must havo been copied from somo system now existing only here. The public got a cut for a time in prices out now peace again seems to reign among mine owners, and the Government is being quietly asked to bring in legislation to prevent them from again falling out and letting tho public have an insight as to what tho retail price of coal should be at all times.

If the coal industry in Now Zealnnd is not inlying now at tlio selling- price prevailing, the writer lias very little hope of the coal miners of the present time- doing any further good. The high rate, charged tn the consumer will have to be substantially reduced before the mines can dispose of their present over-

production. Tho miner of Now Zealand is producing coal at tho minemouth at an average price of 4s per ton. In* the Homo countries, where mining conditions aro far more difficult, coat companies have to take their coal from 300 ft to 1800 ft deep, two miles underground and fifty miles from harbours, and place it at from 7s to 11s per ton to keep their market. •

King Coal is a very discredited old man at the present day, but the day is not very far distant when he will regain his throne in New Zealand as well as in all countries. But he is not capable of stepping back unsupported. Ho has to bo helped. There aro immense profits still in coal and means of employing many thousands of men, but it needs leadership and knowledge for this to be done, and it is vital to the interests of this country that it should be done. —I am, etc.,

THOS. McGEOBY,