EVE OF SOLUTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1944, Page 4

EVE OF SOLUTION

MR. WEBB'S BELIEF

The belief that the coal problem | was on the eve of being solved for all time, and that within the next three of four weeks sufficient coal would be produced from open-cast mines to warrant his saying that there would be an abundant standby of good coal in the future, was expressed by the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb). Mr. Webb said that Mr. Holland's criticism of the coal industry had been quite fair, as had been his request for a committee to investigate the causes of strikes and stoppages in the industry; but he was happy to say that within the hext few weeks—certainly before the end of the year—there would be no neect for a cdßjmittee on that score. . . Two weeks ago he had investigated complaints against miners in Southland continues the Minister. One man might fill 30 trucks by 2 o'clock and stop work, while another man might fill ten trucks in the same time. The miners on comparatively easy sections felt that when they had filled a certain number they should give their mates in more difficult sections an opportunity to get their quota. What the miners wanted was an equal distribution of trucks, so that all miners, in keeping with their agreement, would participate as equally as possible. To open up mines properly required most up-to-date plant, and some.of the plant being used today was a disgrace to mining practice. The companies said they did not have the money, and many were working at a big loss. The mines were not worked with the plant and machinery that would lead to economic efficiency, but the miners got the blame always. He agreed with Mr. Holland that there was no excuse for anybody to stop production, because full machinery existed for the settling of disputes. He said the miners had done a tremendously good job in New Zealand throughout the war. Mr. A. S. Sutherland (National, Hauraki): Where is the coal going? INCREASED CONSUMPTION. Mr. Webb said the consumption of coal 'since 1939 had increased 18 per cent, in the gas works. In the last 18 months not a single ton of coal had been imported.fromjAuskalia^-The,

coal demand by railways had increased by 16 per cent., and they too had in the past been supplied, largely as standby, with Australian coal. In 1919 the position was even worse than now, although 400,000 tons were imported from Australia. It was grossly unfair to stigmatise the miners and watersiders as the bad boys of the country. The coal consumption for electric power supply had increased 546 per cent, an increase essential for the carrying on of industries. Lime and cement works showed an increase of 5 per cent, in coal; miscellaneous industries established because of the war, 35 per cent.; and military requirements had absorbed 100,000 tons a year. No section of the community was deserving of more thanks and consideration than the men who risked their, lives to get coal. . More than 100,000 tons of coal were stripped ready for excavation by mechanical appliances. Mr. Webb said there would, of course, still be the difficulties of transport to and from the South Island to overcome,