DOMINION'S COAL PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 17368, 2 June 1920, Page 8

DOMINION'S COAL PRODUCTION

POSITION EXPLAINED BY MR MASSEY. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ARE DOING. ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES FIRST. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 1. The Prime Minister, who is Minister in charge of the Coal Trade Regulations, has furnished the following reviow of the coal situation : Although at frequent intervals statistics illustrating the serious decline in tho production of coal in the Dominion have been published,, it is advisable at the present juncture, in order to clear up any misapprehension ibat may exist, to again direct the attention of tho public to the actual figures, so that the difficulties being experienced may be readily appreciated. 'Jo do this it is necessary to go back to the year 1914, when conditions were normal, so far as the production and importation of coal were concerned. This is the table of outputs and importations:— k's = i ; . -a s I 9. fl 8i a § * Si i-5 s a 1914 ... 2.275,693 618,070 2,793,663 —' 1915 ... 2,208,624 353,471 2,562,095 141,563 1916 ... .2,257,135 293,956 2,551,091 110 040 1917 ... 2,068,419 299,597 2,360,016 191,075 1918 ... 2,034,250 255,332 2,289,582 70,344 Increase 1919 ... 1,847,748 455,494 2,303,342 13,760 . Net decrease 490,321 It will thus be seen that, taking the combined outputs and importations for the above period, and taking each year separately, there has been a loss to the Dominion up to 31st December, 1919, of no less than 490,321 tons. The most serious aspect, however, is tho steady decline in production of bituminous and semi-bituminous coal in the New Zealand mines, on which the Dominion largely depends for carrying on its shipping, freezing, gasworks, public services, and other essential industries for which this class of coal is alone suitable. The following tabulated statement affords a striking illustration of the serious position the Dominion has drifted into in consequence of the falling off of hard coal: —Outputs New Zealand Bituminous and Semi-bituminous Coal.— Year. Tons. 1914 ... 1,494,315 _ 1915 ... 1,404,400 ... Decrease, 89,915 1916 ... 1,422,047 ... Increase, 17,647 1917 ... 1,247,989 ... Decrease, 174,058 1918 ... 1,122,308 ... Decrease, 125,681 1919 ... 961,107 ... Decrease, 161,201 Net decrease, 533,208 tons. To the above net loss of 533,208 tons in hard coal produced by the New Zealand collieries there must be added 61,576 tons wluch represents the net decrease in the quantity of hard coal imported during the same period, making a total shortage of this class of coal from the year 1914 to end of 1919 of 595 784 tons, which is ! more than «qua! to naif the quantity of hard coal mined in New Zealand for the year 1919. With the loss of over half a million tons in five years, and having regard to the increased consumption of our railways, shipping, and principal industries and other public services, it will be readily understood how enormous are the difficulties experienced in allocating supplies in order to avoid any curtailment or stoppage in the activities indicated, and at the same time provide as far as possible for the reasonable requirements of householders. In this latter connection, however, experience has shown that tho coal allocated to gas and electric power works results in a larger number of households being given facilities for cooking and heating purposes than would be the case if the equivalent quantity of coal were allocated direct to householders through the usual channels. In the case of gasworks, one ton of coal carbonised returns not only its quota of gas, but also 40 per cent, of coke, which, in turn, can be used for domestic purposes and for generating power. It might be as well at this stage to indicate the approximate annual consumption of eomo of our main services and industries, which is as follows :—Railwave, 300,000 tons; gasworks, 250,000; freezing works, 150,000; shipping, 500,000; electric light and power, 80,000; total, 1,280,000 tons, which exceeds the production of hard coal in the Dominion for tho year 1919 by 318,893 tons. This will clearly indicate that had it not been for the special efforts made by the Government to increase importations a national crisis would have been inevitable, as, taking the year 1919 as compared with tho previous year, tho importations were increased from 255,532 tons to 455,494 tons—an increase of 200,162 tons; or, to put tho matter another way, if the importations for 1919 had been on a parity with the previous year, we would not have had sufficient hard coal to have met the demands of the five main industries and services enumerated above.

Unfortunately the figures for the four months of-the current year (January 1 to April 30), in comparison with the same poriod of last year, disclose a further decrease in the output of bituminous and eemi-bituminous coals from the principal New Zealand mines of 57,000 tons, but fortunately the importations during the same period were increased bv 48,000 tons, leaving a net decrease to April 30 last of approximately 9,000 tons. It will be remembered, Ihowever, that the " go slow" policy which was inaugurated in September last was only terminated at the end of February last, and the decrease recorded in the "New Zealand mines up to April 30 is largely accounted for by this factor. It is satisfactory to note, however, that since the termination of the ''go slow" policy movement there has been a considerable improvement in the production of coal on the West Coast and the other mines of the Dominion. White it is very gratifying to record an improvement in recant months, it is regrettable that other factors have considerably more than counterbalanced such increase. For example, skipping tonnage has had to be provided to lift the Dominion's purchase- of wheat, which at the present i2 n iJ 8 i lliilisSn * Bhi PP Jn g to Aw «xtent of 12,000 tons per month. That had to be provided from tonnage usually engaged in the carnage of Newcastle roaL In addition to this, the AdmixaHv requirements for Wostport coa] have to be met to the extent of approximately 5,000 tons per month, and the requisitions in hand for bunkenng supplies for overseas steamers allotted to New Zealand for the cax-ge-,°L en P lo * 3 ?* amount to clow on 12,000 tons of coal for the month of June, and steamers will in addition have to be" provided for on, tlieir arrival in New L'eaknd -waters. It is trusted that the shipping arrangements made will result in the whole of the "wheat purchased by tfew Zealand Wing lifted by the end of June, when the tonnage thus released will be available for the carriage of coal from Newoastlfe, Owing to the steady decline ia the production of_ hard coals, arid the frequent stoppages in the sourca of supply, industries geawwalWr hare been nneble-"to build up reserve stocks, consequently they are entirely dependent on the regular -weekh* shipments to enable them, to carry on operations. In this connection, the geographical position- of the Wert Cfcajst mine* ip a very important factor, inaaaocb. as all coal produced lias to be transported by sea. so that any delays to shipping due to bars being unworkable, bad weather at discharge porta, or other causes affecting the movements of steamers results m in dustries aud other services being placed in a serious position for supplies, and at this time of the year suoh delavs havi to be contended with almost "weekly Under such conditions it will be readily I appreciated how difficult &.matter it is|

to provide regular and adequate allocations to meet the immediate requirements of various users of coaL A careful scrutiny of the figures quoted will clearly indicate to the public the impossibility at the present time of increasing the allocation of coal for household purposes -without seriously interfering -with the operations of important industrial concerns and the public services on •which the prosperity and progress of the Dominion so largely depend. It should be realised that the shortage of coal is universal throughout the Dominion, and is not confined to any particular locality, and if the insistent demands of some districts now being made were acceded to it could only bo done by withdrawing supplies from others, where the shortage is just as acute. The position is being very carefully watched by the Coal Control Department, and the coal trade committees in the four centres are doing their utmost to distribute all coal amving in their respective districts so as to avoid as far a 6 possible any undue hardship to the public. Special arrangements have been made to provide a full shipment of household coal for distribution throughout Wellington province more particularly to enable small reserve, to be formed m Wellington and other towns an the area controlled by the Wellington Coal Trade Committee, to meet urgent cases of sickness and other pressing emergencies. The steamer fixed for this purpose is the s.s. Kaiapoi (2,500 S + u ° h l l dw to load at w «* ports this week. In conclusion, Mr Maesev stated that he felt eure that now the public were fully acquainted with the critical position the Dominion has been placed in witn regard to coal 'supplies owing to reasons well known to everyone, they 8 ™ & t*\ aCCe P t the avoidable restrictions which have had to be imposed on the delivery of coal f~- domestic £ k fr? thafc the ste P s kk«n are »n the beet interests of all concerned.