COAL SUPPLIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18158, 1 February 1921, Page 5

COAL SUPPLIES.

SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS

DECREASED PRODUCTION. HEAVY IMPpRTATIONS. « REVIEW OP OPERATIONS. (Fbou Oub Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, January 31. The Prime Minister has received the following departmental (memorandum regarding coal supplies:—The figures relative to the outputs of the principal New Zealand mines (and importations) for December are now being available, and I am in a position to submit for your information a brief review of the operations for' the year ended December 31 last in comparison with the same period for 1919. The main features for the period mentioned are as under:—(a) Decrease in the outputs of the principal bituminous and semi-bituminous mines, for the year ended December 31 last, of 112,311 tons; (b) in brown coals (North 6f 6332 tons: (o) in brown coal and lignites (South Island) of 2337 tons: making a total shortage for the year of 120,980 tons. The importations for the same period totalled 646,019 tons, as against 455,494 for the year 1919, an increase of 190,525 tons. Deducting the deficit' shown above (120,980 tons) from the increase (importations) there is a surplus of 69,545 tons when compared with the figures for last year. This satisfactory result is entirely the outcome of increased importations from overseas, which for the year ended December 31 last established a record for the dominion, the next highest point being rtiaohed in 1914, when 518,070 tons were received. f >

Owing to increased activity on the part of the Railway Department in respect to foreign coal, the importations for the last three months have been exceptionally heavy, and are os follows: —October, 78,583 tons; November, 83,954 tons; December, 91,075 tons; a total for the three months of 253,612 tons. In October the Railway Department received 44,615 tons of the total imported. In November the Railway Department received 47,529 tons of the quantity imported In 'December the Railway Department received 59,261 tons of imported coal, a total for three months of 151.405 tons. t Analysing the above figures the following position is disclosed: —Australian coal, 103.077 tons; of American coal, 15,057 tons; of Canadian coal, 5933 tons; of Japanese coal. 26.438 tons; a total on railway account of 151,405 tons. The result of such heavy importations of foreign coal for railway purposes has been of substantial benefit in respect to other industries and services, and has enabled a larger provision being made from Australian and local coal supplies than would otherwise have been possible, and at much lower rates than those paid by the Railway Department for the coal in question. The amount of money sent out of the dominion to cover the purchase of over half a million tons of coal is a serious item, and I would respectfully submit that special efforts should be made, if possible, to increase the i.umber of miners in the principal West Coast and, other mines during the incoming year, with a view of increasing the outputs from the dominion mines, and lessening our dependence on outside sources of supply. It. must bo conceded that it is a most unsatisfactory position to be largely dependent on other countries for coal to carry on our main services and industries, yet this has been our experience for several years past. In the early part of ii 6 7 ear , B t e P s were taken to secure from all the dominion mines particulars relating to monthly outputs, with a view of placing before you as soon after the close of the year as possible the total outputs for the dominion. Owing, however, to so many small pines being situated in remote country districts, principally in Otago, great difficulty has' been experienced in collecting the necessary data. lam hopeful, however, that during the next week or two the information outstanding will be secured, and that I will be iible to place before you the outputs for the whole of the dominion mines for the year ended December 31 last. The figures submitted herewith relate, as has been frequently stated, to the principal New Zealand mines only; but as these include the collieries on which our main industries and services depend, and their outputs being dealt with under permit, the figures submitted consequently cover the main field of operations. The outputs of most of the remaining lignite and brown coal mires are absorbed in the districts in which the mines are situated for local domestic use, and consequently have little or no bearing on the general position. Tie accompanying schedules give full particulars m respect to the outputs of each of the principal collieries, as well as showing in tabulated form the outputs and importations for each month up to the close of the year, in comparison with the same period for last year. In connection with the falling off in the outputs of the "West Coast mines, dealt with in the opening paragraph of this report, I would just mention that the mines showing the largest falling off during the year are as under:—

Tons. Westport Coal Company ... 39,435 Point Elizabeth* 42,135 North Brunner , ... „. ... 4.603 Brunner 3,738 Paparoaf ... 22^394 Northern (Auckland) .„ „ ... 9,689 Hikurangi (Auckland) 13,416 Total 135,515 * Closed. + Closed during most of the year, but now reopened. On the other hand, the following mines show increases:— _. , Tons. Liverpool Colliery ... 18,993 Stockton ... ... _ ... 2,178 Blackball ... ._ .. ... 2,033 Total 23,204 The net result being as already shown—a deficit of 112,311 tons.