Coal Output Increases Under Control

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1943, Page 3

Coal Output Increases Under Control

<P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The Minister for Mines (Mr. Webb) stated today that the Press statement relating to operations of the Taupiri coal mines did not disclose the true position, and was misleading, in that it inferred that production had dropped during the control period. During the first nine months of control. compared with a similar period last year, production increased by 41,094 tons, or 7.1 per cent. Taupiri output increased by 1583 tons, or 4.7 per cent.

The company's statement that production for the year ended March 31 last was lower, was true. but. less than six months of that period was under control, and included the . strike period, during which 10,000 tons of possible production was lost. During the last six months of the financial year under control, production increased by over 5000 tons. Mr. Webb, commenting on the increase in mining costs, pointed out that wages had been increased, and all companies granted subsidies to offset higher wages. The adequacy of the Waikato subsidy provisionally fixed at 1/3 a ton, was at present being considered by the Government, it could not be substantiated that control had resulted in higher costs.