NEW ZEALAND COAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21603, 4 January 1945, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND COAL

OPEN-CAST MINING

HOLIDAY PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT FORECAST (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 4. The opinion that open-cast mining will go a long way towards solving the coal problems of New Zealand was expressed by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in an interview last evening. Mr. Webb yesterday visited the Nightcaps and Ohai district, and inspected an open-cast mine at Mossbank, The Minister said the men at the Mossbank open-cast mine had worked throughout the holidays and had produced between 1200 and 1500 tons of coal. This was in excess of the quota for the mine for the holiday period, which had been placed at 1000 tons. There were now about a dozen opencast mines in operation in New Zealand. All had worked the holiday period, and it was estimated that during this period these mines produced about 12,000 tons of coal. “It was the coal from these opencast mines which enabled the Railways Department to increase its train services during the holiday period,” said Mr. Webb. “I am hopeful that open-cast mining may prove to be the salvation of the coal situation in New Zealand, and that this year will see the extension and development of this system, and thus ensure an adequate supply of coal. I feel that the present year will see New Zealand fairly well situated for coal.” Mr. Webb said there was room for development of the open-cast system of mining in Southland, and other New Zealand coalfields, but it was not a job for small companies with inadequate capital. It was not a job for the pick and wheelbarrow. The system required costly machinery, but against this there were many advantages. It meant that almost 100 per cent of the coal was extracted, whereas under the old system of mining only about 50 per cent was extracted, because of the pillars that had to be left, and other safety measures.