COAL PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 19

COAL PRODUCTION

INCREASE IN OUTPUT OVER 4000 MEN EMPLOYED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 1. The coal produced in New Zealand last year amounted to 2,277,799 tons, an increase in the output of 137,582 tons, or 6.43 per cent, over the production for 1936 The figures relating to the classes of coal produced in 1937, the number of mines operating and the employment provided by the industry were made available this evening by the Minister of Mines (Mr P, C. Webb). Last year’s production of bituminous, brown, and lignite coals in tons was as follows: —

S *j • C 3 TJ'O ■ —i ra r 1 c ~ n rtrt £ * o« B S £ Bituminous 41,694 928,290 Brown 736,804 45,598 493,918 Lignite Totals 778,498 975,228 524.073 The total production of coal is therefore 2,277,799 tons. There were 195 mines in operation in the Dominion in 1935 and a total of 4257 men were employed, 1469 in the North Island, 1850 on the West Coast, and 938 in the Otago and Southland district, said Mr Webb. In 1936, 1103 persons were employed above ground and 3154 below ground. There were 172 coal mines in operation in the Dominion in 1937 and a total of 4417 men were employed—l47B in the North Island, 1956 on the West Coast, and 983 in the Otago and Southland district. Of persons ordinarily employed in or about coal mines during 1937, 1129 were employed above ground and 3288 below ground