GOAL OWNERS CONFER

Evening Star, Issue 19410, 19 November 1926, Page 14

GOAL OWNERS CONFER

LITTLE INDUSTRIAL TROUBLE NEED FOR BETTER EQUIPMENT [Pan United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 18. The annual conference of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association was held to-day. Mr W. D. Holgale,- president, in reviewing tko year’s operations at the mines, said that, with the exception of a few minor disputes, work had been carried on with little or no trouble, for which the miners, the owners, and the industry could bo congratulacd, more especially when the serious position in England causcdvthrough the coal strike was considered. For some years past they had been able to make an agreement in conference with the miners by giving some concessions which. might not at the time appear to bo large, but when the paysheet was made up it was found that the concessions considerably increased the cost of production, fn order to combat the ever-increasing cost of producing coal, some of the companies had been compelled to adopt an improved method of producing and handling the coal. Up-to-date electrical plants had been installed, and electricity was generated at the pit mouth at a very nominal cost for haulage operations, coal-cut*.ing machines, pumping, lighting, and many other uses, together with good roads laid with heavy rails underground. These, with other improvements, had effected a considerable saving in the cost of production, but there was scope for more enterprise in butter equipment, ,as it was only by a better and more efficient method of production that, the owners -could liopo to make the mines pay. The output of 1926 might show a slight increase on account of the Railway Department using move New Zealand coal. The combined ability of the mines was. however, far in advance of the demand. It had been anticipated that when the Arapuni scheme was complete it would seriously affect the sale of slack coal in the north,,just as the introduction of electricity did in the south. Some time ago the owners were given to understand that it was the intention of the Alines Department to ask Parliament to appoint a Mine Control Board. So far the matter had been allowed to staml_over. If such a board was to he appointed, he suggested that the matter receive most careful consideration by the association, and that, instead of a board of control, the association should ask the Minister to appoint an advisory and research board, comprised of experts, where all parties interested would be represented, and that the board bold office for a term of five years only. . The election. of officers resulted;— President, Mr W. D. Holgate; vice-pre-sident, Mr A. M'Kellnr; executive—the Hon. T. S. Weston, Messrs R. Lee, W. A. Flavell. W. Crowford, and K. S. Wight.