RECORD COAL OUTPUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 9

RECORD COAL OUTPUT.

LAST YEAR'S INCREASE. HIGHER OUTPUT PER MAN. Ones of the most significant features of the coalmining returns for the year 1928, details of which wore announced last week by the Minister of Minos, is the increase in the output per head of the workers engaged in tho industry throughout the Dominion. While the output for the 12 months has been increased by 69,693 tons, the number of men engaged in the industry was only 22 more than in the previous year, indicating either that the miners as a whole worked fuller time or that they produced a greater quantity per shift. Tho production per man during 1928 was 452.9 tons, as compared with 441.9 tons in tho previous year. It, js pointed out that this result is in contrast with the coal-winning figures from other countries, where tho output, is declining. The details of the 1928 output, and also that, for 1927, are as follows: 1027. 1028. Inc. Tons. Tons. Tons. Northern district 717,530 781,910 31,410 West Coast .. 1,150,445 1,200.722 44,277 Southern district 403,019 454,025 *8,991 2.300,991 2,430,087 09,093 'Decrease. Tho total number of persons employed in .tho industry last year was 5380, as against 5358 in 1927. The coal imports declined from 378.090 tons in 1927 to 248,052 tons last year, a decrease of 130,038 tons, or moic than one-third.