COAL MINE INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 8

COAL MINE INDUSTRY

MINISTER OH “ MISCHIEVOUS STATEMENTS ” CONSUMER SUPPLIES WILL BE ADEQUATE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 27. A statement on the mining position in New Zealand was made by the Minister of Alines, Mr Webb, in reply to an urgent question by Air Barrel!, who asked the Alinister if his attention had been drawn to a recent statement appearing in the Press in connection with the sitting of the Alanpower Committee at Hamilton regarding the mines in the Waikato. Air Webb stated that lie regretted very much the undue publicity given to statements of a mischievous character, which would only tend to foment discontent among the coal miners in this country. The Alinister referred to the appointment of a Coal Alines Council in June of this year, and said the establishment of this council met with the full approval of the coal owners and the miners’. organisations. _ The council had made preliminary visits to the Waikato and West Coast coalfields, and at present was in the Southland district. Its work was not yet completed, and Die Alinister _ said that hence he was not in a position at the moment to say what advice would be tendered to the Government by the council in regard to the achievement of greater efficiency in the industry. He would not say that there was no disruptive influence at work amongst the coal miners, but he could say with confidence that the great majority of the men engaged in the coal mines were loyal to the core and had a sense of responsibility to the country which was not excelled by any other section of the community.

In regard to the claim that all the miners in the Waikato were not working the full eight-hour shift bank to bank, the Alinister said he felt that to no small degree the managers themselves were to blame for allowing this situation to develop. Trucking costs also had been referred to, but it was entirely unfair to attribute the whole increase in the cost of trucking to the quantum of work done by the trucker. With regard to coal production and tho alleged serious position facing industry In respect to coal supplies, the Alinister continued that he had recently pointed out that, for the 10 months ended October 31. production was 160.000 tons ahead of the same period last year.

With regard to overseas imports, floods were delaying the work, and also increased consumption in the Dominion.

The Government’s decision to reopen the Tatu and Alangapchi collieries was based on the consideration of anticipated problems of supply for industries, said Mr Webb, and early in the new year both mines would be producing on a much larger scale. This would prove of great assistance, and the Alinister said he was confident that the requirements of enal consumers would be adeqnatel.y fulfilled.