N.Z. COAL OUTPUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 7

N.Z. COAL OUTPUT

LITTLE BELOW RECORD 1939 FIGURES EXCEEDED (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The coal output for 1940 totalled 2,516,099 tons, an increase of 173,460 tons over the previous year, the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, stated in an interview yesterday. The record was 2,542,092 tons in 1930, The number of men employed in the coal mines last year was 5046, an increase of 284 over 1939. * The production per man working underground was 668 tons —seven tons higher than in the previous year. The output per man on the payroll was seven tons higher at 499 tons than in 1939. The importations of coal amounted to 04,860 tons, a decrease of 46,677 tons. The exports totalled 81,287 tons, an increase of 37.297 tons over the previous year. For the first four months of 1941 the output was 110,000 tons up compared with the same period last year. Commenting on the regrettable April stoppages in the Waikato, the Minister said he was confident that the best elements in .the industry would rise to the occasion and do whatever was necessary to fulfil adequately the needs of the public. The Minister said that the public need have no fear because of the coal position.