INCREASING COSTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17029, 14 August 1929, Page 7

INCREASING COSTS

STATE MINE OPERATIONS (Parliamentary Reporter.; WELLINGTON, this day. Owing to the fact that the number of working days was considerably less, tho output from bath the Liverpool and James State-owned coal mines was reduced last year. The average number of days lost at Liverpool colliery, excluding back Saturdays, waa 62. Taking the later figure with the daily output of 730 tons, a total loss of 45,260 in output is represented. There was a consequential loss in miners' earnings. Tho annual report states that there has been an effort on the part of the management to keep down the cost of production, but in consequence of frequent interruptions to work and reduced output, costs have been higher than would have been the case with regular and greater service. The James colliery worked 215 days, being 10 less than the "previous year. At No. 1 Liverpool ISO days were worked, and at No. .2 177 days. Delays to shipping and want of trade accounted for a loss of 53 days, and union holidays for a loss of 20 days in each case. The operations T>f the State coal mines disclose a profit of £9208 for the year ended March 31.