KAMO MINE OUTPUT SHOWS BIG INCREASE

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1948, Page 3

KAMO MINE OUTPUT SHOWS BIG INCREASE

ALTHOUGH the miners are working seven hours daily instead of eight, the Kamo mine, under state ownership, has increased its weekly output by an average ot 229 tons, represen r iog a 27.7 per cent rise in coal production. . The development of a new section of the mine is contemplated in the near future and a further increase in production is aimed at before the end of this year.

After the colliery had been taken over on January 5 of this year the weekly output for the first nine weeks of the state's operations was 826 tons, said the manager (Mr J. Hadcroft) m an interview at Kamo yesterday. During the past nine weeks the output had averaged 1055 tons per week. This had been achieved with the same number of men, and in a shoitei working week.

Referring to other work being carried out at the mine, Mr Hadcroft said the laying of heavier roads was being continued in order to facilitate the extraction of coal. In addition, the light surface roads had been replaced with heavier rails, making easier the handling of the coal at the surface.

Giving a new return air course to the coal field, the No. 6 stone drive was being proceeded with by a party of contractors. It was anticipated that the 630 ft drive from the surface to the seam would be completed in about two months.'

MAIN REASON The main reason for the higher production was the installation of a double-drum haulage system which was put into operation on June 23, and which increased the haulage capacity of the plant by another two-thirds. Under the new scheme, a full rake of skips could be hauled to the surface while an empty rake descended, and 13 rakes could be handled in the time previously required for six lakes. ” To operate the system it had been necessary to re-lay the road to the main drive from the surface to the coal seam, and to instal a double road to allow two-way traffic. As a result of the increased haulage capacitv, the 3S miners, working on two shifts of 19 each day. had increased the mine's production to a marked degree. EARNINGS INCREASE

TO WORK NEW AREA In regard to the development oi coal-winning places in the mine. Mi Hadcroft intimated that the opening up of a new area on the south side of the Slant Dip was being contemplated. He said this would probably b.e done in the near future. The mine was employing about 150 men. including 50 who were previously working in the Waro mine at Hikurangi. These men had been engaged mainly on reconstructional work at the Kamo mine.

Coal at present was being won from Deel’s Dio. nearly 800 ft below the surface. and the East Dip. which was 600 ft down.

It was distributed to Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Ltd., the Railways Department and Northland dairy companies and "hospitals.

The miner's earnings and the output per hewers’ shift had increased by a corresponding amount.