LESS DEMAND FOR COAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 10

LESS DEMAND FOR COAL.

POSITION AT HfKURANGL FORTY-ONE MEN DISCHARGED. OTHER MINES ON SHORT TIME. Tho statement that fifty men were being discharged at the Hikurangi Coal Company's mine was confirmed yesterday by the local office of the company. It was stated the services of fifty-one men were being dispensed with, as it was now possible to cope with tho present demand for the company's product with a much smaller staff. Inquiries showed that all the mines in the Auckland province wore now working on short time, one shift being worked in each case with a loss of from one to three days a week. As reported yesterday the Hikurangi Minors' Union has approached the Prime Minister asking for immediate relief by insisting on tho use of New Zealand coal, on the railways and other State enterprises in place of the imported article. Officials of the various companies stated that while at one time the railways used considerable quantities of local coal tbp demand from this quarter had fallen oijf in recent years, with the result that the mines had been compelled to reduce outh put. Representations were made to the Government, and after lengthy negotiations a Board of Inquiry was set. up under the Railways Act to report upon the question of the utilisation of New Zealand and other coals on tho New Zealand railways. This board, of which Mr. P. W. Fnrkert, engineer-in-chief of tho Public Works Department, is chairman, is composed of representatives of the Railway Department, the Coalmine Owners' Association and tho unions concerned. The board commenced its silttings in Wellington toward the end of January and has since visited tho principal centres of the West Coast,' where evidence has been taken. The present intention is that the board will hold a sitting in Auckland about the beginning;of March, but so far the actual date is not known locally. The Hikurangi Uriion has asked the Prime Minister arrange for a sitting of tho board at Hikur/angi to investigate the conditions ia the Northern coalfields. Company officials were asked yesterday whether the introduction of electric power and its adoption by industrial concerns had weakened the demand for local coals, and the consensus of opinion was that no appreciable difference had been noted, as in the past the bulk of tho output, apart from that used on the railways, was secured for household use.