GOLD AND COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24049, 21 August 1941, Page 13

GOLD AND COAL

DOMINION'S OUTPUT SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES MINERAL EXPORTS £4,619,791 (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The value of minerals, including kauri gum, exported, and of the coal used in the Dominion during 1940, amounted to £4,619,791, compared with £4,132,476 during 1939, according to the annual Mines Statement presented to the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb. The total value of such minerals exported from the country to the end of last year amounted to £212,300,274. During the year 600,9950z. of bullion, valued at £1,945,707, was produced, an increase in quantity of 31,6980z. and in value of £378.730, compared with 1939. The gold content of the bullion is estimated at 185.665 oz., valued at £1,891,447. The production of gold was the highest for any year since 1920. Output from Dredges ' Gold production from alluvial mines, 18.0010z., showed a decrease of 4610z., that from dredges, 88,4950z., an increase of 11,4570z., and from quartz mines, 79,1190z., a decrease of 42860z. The higher production was therefore wholly due to increased output from dredging claims, which were responsible for 48 per cent of the total production. During the year 24 dredges operated, 18 on the West Coast and six in Southland and Otago. On the West Coast five dredges are being built and preparations are being made for the erection of dredges on two other tested areas. An area of 7070 acres held under 11 dredging claim licences would be valued for farming purposes, on the highest possible valuation, at £16.800, while the value of gold recoverable is £16,750,000, said the statement. The Government was, nevertheless, endeavouring to minimise damage to land and intended _ investigating possibilities of reclaiming dredged areas. Petroleum Wells From the wells at Moturoa of the New Zealand Petroleum Company, Limited, 95,841 gallons of crude petroleum oil were produced during 1940, while from the Kotuku field of New' Zealand Oil Concessions, Limited, 80 gallons of petroleum oil were produced. There were 141 coal mines operating in 1940, and their total production was 2,516,099 tons, the highest since 1930. This was an increase of 7.4 per cent over the previous year and the output per miner was seven tons higher. The amount of coal imported was 64,860 tons, or 46,487 tons less than in 1939, while exports, 81,287 tons, were 37,297 tons higher. There was therefore 83.974 tons less coal for local consumption. State Coal Mines The output from State coal mines was the highest in the history of the department, the quantity being *-ol,oub tons. The net profit for the year ended March 31 last, after making provision for interest and depreciation, was £25.027 an increase over the previous 'year of £10,187. Total wages to 609 men and 39 youths amounted to £204,339, an average income of £3lo. For the previous year the income was £287. Tile total number of persons employed in or about mines and stone quarries increased from 9669 m I.WJ to 9800 last year. Work for an additional 284 men was found in coalmining. There were two fatal accidents in metalliferous mines and eight m coal mines. There was an urgent need to inculcate into officials and workmen the importance of unceasing vigilance. The expenditure on schools of 11111105 for the year ended March 31.1941. was £3360, compared with £3b3l in 1940. THE SEARCH FOR OIL ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS PROGRESS OF DRILLING (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "The whole economy of the Dominion would be affected bv the discovery of petroleum oil in payable quantities, and it is to be hoped that the encouraging prospects so far reached will ultimately be crowned with success," said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in the annual Mines Statement presented to. the House of Representatives to-day. A staff of experts numbering 178 was engaged on scientific work to locate sites suitable for drilling and more than £1,000,000 had already been'spent 111 prospecting work. Expensive equipment nad been brought into the country and j two wells were at present being drilled. That at Midhirst was down to more than 7900 ft., the deepest every drilled in New Zealand, and the well at Morere to 5722 ft. "A careful study should convince anyone of the genuineness of the search for oil," said the Minister. "There have been many new problems, but when all the scientific preliminary work has been completed it is the drill alone which will prove or disprove the theories which have been formulated." NO COAL SHORTAGE REVIEW OF SITUATION MAINTAINING PRODUCTION (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "There is 110 real shortage of coal and no rationing has been necessary or contemplated," said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in the annual Mines ■ Statement presented to the House of Representatives to-day. "Consumption is expanding rapidly and this makes it imperative to maintain production at the highest possible level to supply the demand and progressively build up stocks for storing at strategic points." The substantial increase in production was the response of the industry to the Minister's appeals for greater efforts to meet the needs of industries and domestic consumers. A review of the general situation at the end of June showed that there was no cause for concern in regard to supplies. Stocks at the two main steam generated electricity plants in the North Island were almost double those at the beginning of the year and railway stocks had been placed on a safe basis. Adequate provision had also been made for butter and cheese factories and freezing works, and steady progress was being made with stocks for all other industrial units. Householders' requirements were being met satisfactorily and any suggestion of a domestic shortage should not be taken seriously. Results of a survey during the year by the coal survey laboratory emphasised the need for a comprehensive scheme of conservation of the resources of bituminous coal in the Dominion. PRODUCER GAS RESEARCH MUCH LABORATORY WORK (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The search for fuels suitable for use in producer gas driven vehicles during the year entailed much laboratory work in testing locally-produced materials, according to the Minos Statement presented in the House of Representatives to-day. The coal survey laboratory, because of the danger of'a shortage of oil fuels through the war, examined possible substitutes, including activated gasworks cokes, carbonised Waikato coals, anthracites and wood charcoals. Shales from Orepuki and North Otago were examined for oil content.