MINING INDUSTRIES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 November 1935, Page 7

MINING INDUSTRIES

COAL AND GOLD PRODUCTION SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES PRIME MINISTER'S HE VIEW.

(By Telegraph— Press Association),

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 6.

A review of the coal and gold mining activity in New Zealand in the last tour years was given by the Prime Minister, the Rt. H ou - G. W. Forbes, in an address at Culverdeu. Mr Forbes showed there hail been an increase of 200,000 tons in coal production last year and of L'OoO.OOU-' in gold production since 1931. :

Many complaints were made about the state of the New Zealand coal industry, said Mr Forbes. It was said that”” hydro-electric development was lessening the needs for coal and that the number of men employed was continually decreasing. Actually there was now an upward movement in the consumption of coal. The annual production of coal in New Zealand since 1931 had been: 1931, 2,1-57,756 tons; 1932, 1,842,022 tons; 1933, 1,821,258 tons ; 1931, 2,080,315 tons. The peak production for New Zealand was 2,547,092 tons in 1930. Imports of coal into New Zealand since 1931 had been: 1931, 179,060 tons; 1932, 103,531 tons; 1933, 99,272 tons; 1934, 100,715 tons. The Government policy had been to use New Zealand coal wherever possible. The Railways Department now used only New Zealand coal, and every' effort was being made by the Mines Department to induce gas companies and users of steam to adopt a similar practice. To-day gold was the one commodity New Zealand possessed for which there was an inestimable demand at record prices. The actual output of gold had increased by one third in the last five years, while the value of gold produced had iuereased by 132 per cent. Estimated quantities and values of gold produced in New Zealand in the last five years were: Year Ounces Value. . 193 U 120.931 £449.744 1931 ... ... 129,861 £627,451

1932 166,354 £974,734 1933 161,755 £1,063,543 1934 160,248 £1,158,607 The number of men engaged in gold mining had increased from 1564 in 1930 to 6540 in 1934. The future of gold mining in New Zealand lay mainly in the nse of modern methods and equipment, which could only be furnished by strong companies possessing ample financial resources. A resolution at the close of the meeting expressed confidence in Mr Forbes and the Government.