MINISTER OF MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1941, Page 7

MINISTER OF MINES

DOBSON-BLACKBALL OUTPUT. AUCKLAND, July 14. Advice that the coal output at. the Dobson mine was normal to-day has been received by the Minister for Mines (Mr. Webb). A director of Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd., claimed last week that a drop of 40 per cent, in output since the men went back to work after the dispute, which ended on June 27, was due to go-slow tactics. Mr. Webb said that when he addressed the men last week he urged them to give the greatest production possible, as the country needed coal at the present time. He had received advice that a meeting of the men was held on Sunday, and that production was now normal. Reports from the Blackball mine, which has been taken over by the Government, were very satisfactory, Mr. Webb added. Production was increasing greatly, and he was confident that the mine would soon be a paying proposition. The contract system adopted was enabling the men to earn good wages. GOLD PRODUCTION. Gold production in New Zealand last year, 185,804 ounces, was the highest for any year since 1920, said the Minister for Mines. It was an increase of 6849 ounces on the previous year. The Government’s policy of assisting by subsidies and loans the prospecting and development of minerals in areas considered to have some prospects had been continued, and £56,695 was spent in this way in the last financial year. Rents from mining privileges credited to local bodies amounted to £ 16,722 during the financial year, and gold export duties totalled £265,292. OIL RESEARCH. ■ A tribute to the efficiency with which the search lor oil was being conducted in Now Zealand was paid by the Minister. Under the Petroleum Act, 66 prospecting licences, covering 11.558 square miles, were quickly taken up by strong financial companies, he said, and at present 58 licences over 10,143 square miles were still in existence. A staff of experts at present numbering 178 was engaged on scientific work in locating sites suitable for drilling. More than £ 1,000,000 had already been expended in prospecting work. Two wells were at present being drilled. One al Morere was now down to 5512 feet, and that at Midhirst to 7238 feet, this well being the deepest ever drilled in the Dominion.