LOW COAL OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23380, 23 June 1939, Page 11

LOW COAL OUTPUT

REPLY TO MR. DAVIS MINISTER'S COMMENT ACCOMMODATION DIFFICULTY CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED [hy TELEGRAPH PitKSS association] WELLIXG TON, Tliursdny Tho Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, said to-day that it would be a mistake to think of importing miners from Australia and other places at present. Referring to the complaint by the president of the New Zealand Mine Owners' Association, Mr. C. C. Davis, that coal production was being slowed up by the miners themselves and that consideration might be given to tho importation of miners, Mr. Webb said the present situation was a legacy from the depression. He contended that during tho depression companies sacked men by the hundred and refused to allow the miners to share what little work there was. Jit the last three years miners had worked good time, with substantial increases in earnings and improved conditions. It had been the policy of tho Government, in refusing to grant new Crown leases, said the Minister, to get coal from existing mines and keep them working regularly. Many miners who were forced into other occupations now hesitated about going back to mining, while many others with the advancing years did not feel capable of returning to their old occupation. However, there were still many voting miners anxious to return to coal work if adequate accommodation was available.

This accommodation problem was serious. Men had been sent front the Employment Department willing to work, but found it impossible to get a home near the mines. Some had had to sleep in wash-houses. The result was that many had to return elsewhere. "It is my intention," said Mr. Webb, "to call a conference of mining companies where accommodation is inadequate to discuss tho matter with them."

COMMENT BY MR. DAVIS

DESI HE TO FIND A BEMEDY [hi* telegraph —press association] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursdny Comment was made to-day by Mr. C. C. Davis, president of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association, on the statements ot' Mr. A. McLagan, secretary of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, about the present coal shortage. "It. seems clear," ho said, "that we nre agreed upon the main points—that New Zealand has ample coal resources for all her requirements; that men to get the coal out are available; that it is not being done. Surely the subject can be approached temperately in search of a remedy without resort to personalities." Mr. Davis added that the problem was becoming serious and the shortage was becoming acute. The Minister of Mines was fully conversant with it.

IMPORTING MINERS

PRIOR CONDITIONS PROVISION OF HOUSING REMOVING GREY BAR HANDICAP [BV TELEGRArn —OWN" CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday A statement that if a shortage of miners still was a factor in short supplies of coal he would have no hesitation, after two conditions had been observed, in arranging for miners to be imported to this country, was mado by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The two conditions he set out were the provision of suitable accommodation for New Zealand miners where they were wanted, and the removal of the present handicap that existed in bituminous coal supplies because of the .state of tho Grey Bar and the occasional disorganisation of shipping so caused. "All I can say is that until such timo as there is provided the necessary accommodation for miners in our own country it would be an unwise policy to import miners," said Mr. Webb. "In many places miners iind it difficult to .get accommodation now. I sent miners to Waikato, but they failed to get accommodation and they had to leave." The Minister said he would be calling in a few days a conference of all connected with tlio industry to consider the whole coal supply situation and he was confident that the conference would be able to arrange sufficient supplies to meet all steam and domestic requirements. "Wo may find some difficulty in supplying all the gas companies with bituminous coal," the Minister added, "but that is very largelv due to the state oi the Grey liar. The South island is fairly well supplied, but in the North Island, largely because of the Grev Bar conditions, there is a definite shoitagc.

POSITION IN SOUTHLAND

LACK Ob 1 OKDKIIS DENIED [iJV TKLKCiHAril —I'IIKSS ASSOCIATIO INVKHCARGIhh, Thursday Contradiction of a statement made bv Mr. A. MeLagan, secretary of the United Mine Workers' Federation, tliftt one Southland mino put ofl -I Illinois la>>t month because of lack of ordeis was made by the manager of 01113 of tin; Southland companies to-day. _ "I give that an emphatic denial, lie said. "No men have' been put off. One of the mines was put out of operation because of unavoidable Hooding and a number ol miners was taken oil by other mines." Although the output, of coal by Southland mines was much the same as at this time last year, ho said, the companies were unable to overtake the rush of orders.