STATE COALMINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25023, 13 October 1944, Page 4

STATE COALMINING

LOSS FOE PAST YEAR HEAVY CALL ON RESERVES The net loss of £99,156 shown in the report of the State Coal Mines for the year ended March 31, 1944, and which was debated in the House of Representatives this week, compares with a net profit in the previous year of £4079. Against losses at only two collieries in the earlier period, substantial losses were recorded at five collieries during the year under review. The losses at the five collieries totalled £109,814, being made up as follows:—Liverpool, £10,830; Dobson, £26,046; Wallsend. £22,747; Blackball, £21,768; Tatu, £28,423. Another item on the debit side was £23,484 for the payment of interest on loans. The net loss on the five collieries was partly offset by a total profit of £29,420 from four collieries and three depots, almost half this profit, or £13.542, coming from the Wellington depot. Royalties brought in £4419. To meet the net loss of £99,156 and the payment of £21,052 into the loans redemption account, a transfer was made from the general reserve, which now stands at £127,764. Increases in gross output were recorded at three mines and there were decreases at two. Full year comparisons are not possible for the Wallsend and Debson mines, which were taken over by the State in February, 1943, and for the James mine, which was closed down in July, 1943. The mines which increased their output. with the increase in brackets, are as follows:—Strongman, 105,701 tons (11,531 tons); Blackball, 45.029 (10,502); Mangapehi. 70:929 (18,897). The Liverpool mine produced 135.260 tons, which was a decrease of 30.576, and the Tatu mine produced 28.948 tons, a decrease of 671. During 1943-44 the Wallsend output was 58,742 tons, against 6883 in about six weeks of the previous year, while the corresponding figures for the Dobson mine were 61,875 and 7081. A total of 29,529 tons was produced from the .Tames mine in 194243, compared with 5119 between March 31 and July 23, 1943. HOUSE BURGLARIES ACTIVITIES IN REMUERA A series of burglaries has occurred in the Remuera district and quantities of jewellery, watches and similar articles have been taken from houses while the occupants have been absent. On Wednesday night jewellery and watches valued at between £3O and £4O were stolen from a house in Cotter Avenue. Entry was made by a bathroom window, and drawers and cupboards were ransacked. The previous night about £7O worth of jewellery was stolen from a house in Ohinerau Street. Several other burglaries have occurred in the district in the past few days. PARKING AREAS PROPOSALS IN THE CITY A proposal to provide vehicle parking facilities by excavating part of Albert Park and erecting a multiple-storey parking station, which was made by the Automobile Association (Auckland)., was considered at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce council yesterday. A report on city parking was received from the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Among its suggestions were that parking areas be provided by both private enterprise and civic authorities to serve small areas of the city, that kerhside parking meters be installed when possible, and that plans of future city buildings should be approved only if sufficient truck loading docks and parking space for the motor-cars of,the occupants of the building were provided for. It was decided by the council that the time was opportune for the City Council and the commercial community to consider the provision of sufficient parking facilities in various selected parts of the city area, and it recommended that the fullest consideration be given by the City Council to the Automobile Association's proposal concerning Albert Park. PALACE INVESTITURE (Special Correspondent) IjONDON, Oct. 11 New Zealanders who attended a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive decorations included Group-Captain E. W. Whitley ,_ D.5.0., of Remuera, Auckland; Wing-Com-mander Colin Gray. D.5.0., of Gisborne, who received a second bar to his D.F.C.; Souadron-Leader .T. L. Munro, D.5.0.. D.F.C.: Flight-Lieutenant V. S. Moore, D.5.0.. D.F.C.. D.F.M.; and Flight-Lieutenant G. L. R. Heywood, D.F.C.