DOMINION’S COAL INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 4

DOMINION’S COAL INDUSTRY

Increase In Output

Achieved

COUNCIL TO INQUIRE INTO COMPLAINTS ■

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 26. “Some months ago I expressed the opinion that it would be in the best interests of the coal-mining industry and of the Dominion to have complaints which were being made about the efficiency of the equipment, the methods of working the coal mines and the most effective utilization of labour investigated by a committee of technical men, one to represent the owners, one to represent the miners and the third a representative of the Government,” said the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) tonight. “Since that time negotiations have been proceeding and a closer examination of the immediate requirements has been made. In the Coal Mines Council Emergency Regulations I have been empowered to set up a Coal Mines Council which will possess not only the power to investigate the matters mentioned as a royal commission should the need arise, but also to function as an executive body. “Under the present conditions it is necessary that every industry essential for our national welfare should be organized as rapidly as possible so as to attain the maximum of efficiency. The normal procedure of appointing commissions to report for action to be taken months later is entirely out of the question at present.

COUNCIL’S POWERS “The powers vested in the council under the regulations deal in the main with two issues which are of paramount importance. These are first, the adequacy and efficiency of the plant and equipment and the methods of working the coal mines, and, second, to obtain full service from and to give an adequate return to the labour employed in the coal mines and provide machinery for the prompt settlement of disputes. “The council which I have set up under the regulations comprises Mr T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association, Mr A. McLagan, secretary of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand, and Mr C. J. Strongman, superintendent of the State Collieries at Greymouth. I have implicit confidence in the ability of these men to carry out the work entrusted to them and I am sure the selection will meet with the approval of all associated with the coal-mining industry. “I would also like to let the public know the position about the output of coal, which has improved immeasurably during the past two months. Up to the end of March the output from our collieries was 35,000 tons lower than it was for the first three months of 1939. This was due in the main to serious floods occurring in the North Island and on the West Coast of the South Island.

“During April and May of the present year a substantial improvement in the output has been attained and the figures for the first five months of this year show an increase of 30,000 tons compared with a similar period last year. This means that during the last two months a net gain of 65,000 tons in output has been recorded. During these months only normal time was worked at the collieries. Practically all the mines in the Dominion have decided to work one extra day a fortnight until the end of September, so during the next few months - a much greater increase in the rate of production will be achieved.”