OPEN-CAST SYSTEM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 80, 2 October 1944, Page 7

OPEN-CAST SYSTEM

MINISTERS MAKE A TOUR

P.A. AUCKLAND, October 1. To study the possibilities of coal development in the Waikato by - opencast methods, a Parliamentary party headed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb), and the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason), spent most of the day on Saturday in the Huntly, Glen Afton, and Glen Massey districts. The Prima. Minister expressed himself as being most favourably impressed by areas being developed. The party first travelled' to Glen Massey, where work was proceeding on a new open-east area covering 53----acres. The block has deposits of coal' estimated at 480,000 tons. After further stops at Glen Aftcifl. and Rotowaro, where the Prime Minister spoke briefly and received deputations, the party was entertained to lunch at Huntly by the' Mayor, Mr. V G. Smith, and councillors. Before' leaving Huntly the Prime Minister was accorded a civic reception. The party then proceeded to Lake Kimihia, about two miles from Huntly, where a demonstration of open-cast mining was given in an area of 12 acres which is now being worked. The area is a coal cap on a hillside, and about 300 tons of coal are being won daily, the record being 350 tons. A total of 12.000 tons has already been taken from this area, which is estimated to contain Between 50,000 and 60,000 tons. Other .areas nearby are awaiting development, one .'ginaller ;eap: containing between 10,000 and 20,000 tons. -A third area is estihiated. to contain 400,000 tons. AN ASSURED FUTURE. Though there might still be difficulties and shortages of gas-producing-coal in New Zealand, the development of open-east mines had a wonderful future, said Mr. Fraser at the conclusion of the inspection. • "Because of the war large quantities of coal which New Zealand used to: import from Australia are not now available, and it has been necessaryto explore every possible avenue to increase the Dominion's coal production," said, Mr. Fraser. "From what I have seen'today I feel that the optimism of the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) regarding open-east mining is fully justified.- The future of this important industry is assured. "Some of our gas-producing machinery is out of date, -and we are labouring under great difficulties, as we are unable to obtain the most modern equipment. At present coal mining is a key industry in New Zealand, and it cannot remain the source of contention. between employers and employees that it has been in the past. Ways must be found of overcoming these-differences of opinion." Mr. Webb expressed his view that as a result of the development of open-cast mining the public could be assured of a plentiful supply of coal in the near future. He said that eight areas were.now producing good coal under the open-cast method. . The party arrived in Auckland.on Saturday, and will' visit Hamilton tomorrow and later the new King Coun- ; try mining township of Benneydale. They will go on to Wellington on Monday night