MINING INDUSTRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 December 1927, Page 5

MINING INDUSTRY

A YEAR’S PRODUCTION. NEW SOUTH WALES CONDITIONS. GOLD AND ( OPPEUIi PASSING BY GABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT Received 11.50 a.m. to-day.

SYDNEY, Dec, 24. The Department of Alines estimates the total value of New South Wales mineral .production for the year ending December 31 next will be between £19,600,000 and £19,500,000. Last year’s output exceeded twenty millions, lho iiudcr-Secretary in a statement say-s: The passing o-f some- branches of the metalliferous industry, notably gold and copper, is becoming increasingly evident, but in turn they are being replaced by others, which have developed with the growth of the State. For example the cement industry now contributes an annual output equal to that of the gold mines in the boom years. The estimated output of coal in 1927 will approximate lOj- million tons, which is- three hundred thousand less than the previous year. The increase in the price of coal, however, will lift the aggregate value of the output to that of the previous year. About 24,500 miners are engaged in the industry. It is estimated the production of .silver, lead and zinc from Broken Hill will exceed 1,400,000 tons, an increase o-f over one hundred thousand as compared with 1926, when the value was £5,760,000. The low price ruling for copper pre-. eluded profitable working of ores. No new discoveries of gold were- made.