INCREASED COAL PRODUCTION

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 4

INCREASED COAL PRODUCTION

Shortage Of Colliers For Trade (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, February 9. If shipping transport from the West Coast to the North Island could be made available, the enormously increased demand for coal for industrial and electricity expansion would be met. Confidence that with the cooperation of the industry full supplies would be available was expressed in an interview by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb. “The situation, especially of the need for steaming coal for generating electricity to meet the requirements of power boards in the North Island is undoubtedly serious,” Mr Webb said. “This has been brought about because of the rapid expansion of the demand for electricity for industry exceeding the record production of coal. We require at least 150,000 tons to supply industry and on top of that comes the demand from the power boards for an additional 150,000 tons for Auckland alone. That one order would be represented by the output of two ordinary sized mines.” While it was not possible at this stage to give the exact figures of coal production for 1940 as the returns from all the collieries had not been received, data to hand showed that the output exceeded 2,500,000 tons, Mr Webb said. There was every indication that when the final returns were compiled a new record in coal production would be set, the previous record being 2,542,092 tons in 1930, just after the Australian strike. It was interesting to compare the production for each employee in the record year of .1930 and 1939. In 1930 the output of a miner underground was 574 tons, or 87 tons below that in 1939. Similarly the production of a man on the pay-roll in 1930 was 433 tons, or 59 tons fewer than in 1939. REPLY TO CRITICS “These figures definitely refute the unfair statements levelled against the miners,” the Minister said. “I am of the definite opinion that the miners of this country have never put greater zeal into their work to meet the national requirements, and if every section of industry, especially the miners’ critics, did as well the country would be richer. “The Customs returns showed that the coal imported in 1940 was 64,856 tons, or 46,414 tons below that in 1939. On the other hand exports were 37,297 tons higher at 81,287 tons,” said the Minister. Balancing the imports and exports there was 8711 tons less bituminous coal than in 1939. That had had some effect upon the stock position in the country, but the steady increases in output had helped to improve the situation. Approximately 30,000 tons of steaming coal were in stock at the State mines, while other mines on the West Coast could supply huge quantities which could easily overcome any shortage of steaming coal in the North Island, but a number of colliers had been taken from the trade for other purposes and it was difficult to obtain extra shipping. If shipping was provided every ton of coal required for northern purposes would be supplied. The three State collieries at Greymouth produced in 1940 240,065 tons, or an increase of 31,000 tons over 1939. Mr Webb said that a further increase in production was anticipated this year, especially from the Strongman colliery. Work at the State mines in the North Island was proceeding satisfactorily and production from them would increase considerably before the winter set in.