PRODUCTION OF COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18198, 18 September 1922, Page 9

PRODUCTION OF COAL.

DECLINE IN AVERAGE OUTPUT RECORD IMPORTATIONS. The total quantity of coal produced in and imported into New Zealand in 1921 was 2.631,554, an increase of 311,506 tons on the previews year's supply and the highest figure sine© the record of 2.793,663 tons in 1914. The latter included 2,275,593 tons produced in New Zealand, the highest figure on record, while last year's supply comprised 822 459 tons of imported coal, greatly exceeding all previous records of imports, and 1,809,095 tons produced in New Zealand, the lowest figure since 1906. Following are details of the importations from various countries for the last two vears : — 1920. . 1921. Tons. Tons. Value. , United Kingdom, — 83,831 £ 197.053 ' Canada . . . ? - 3.027 7,449 ' Australia . . 461.986 627.659 814.237 I Japan . . . . — 43.278 141.881 U.S. A 2,327 64,614 160,420 : South Africa . . 12,030 — — Totals ..476.343 822,459 £1,321.040 Exports of New Zealand coal in 1921 amounted to 53,183 tons valued at 510. as compared with 80,088 tons valued at £128,509. Exports of other coal last year were 9194 tons valued at £24.477. The number of persons employed above ground was- 1218, the highest yet attained, and underground 3149, the largest number since the record of 3558 in 1914. The production of coal was at the rate of 574 tons per person employed underground, this being the lowest retifrn since 1894. In 1916, 3000 miners produced 2.257,135 tons, establishing the record output of 750' tons, but each year since has shown a decline to the low record of last year.