INCREASED COAL OUTPUT SOUGHT

Southland Times, Issue 24764, 8 June 1942, Page 4

INCREASED COAL OUTPUT SOUGHT

CONFERENCES HELD BY MINISTER Conferences with the coal owners of Southland and the miners were held by the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) during the weekend with the object.of securing the maximum production from the mines. The seriousness of the shortage of coal in the province was - emphasized by the owners and the Minister announced that he was anxious to see the output raised to the highest possible level.

On Saturday afternoon the Minister spent nearly two hours with representatives of the Southland Coal Owners’ Association discussing the position in the Southland mines. All aspects of the labour problems in the mines were touched on as well as equipment in the mines and accommodation for miners in the mining district. The owners expressed their willingness to co-operate with the Government in every way possible to secure a greater output from the mines. Messrs H. J. Macalister, W. J. A. McGregor, G. L. Cross, W. Crawford and S. W. Jones represented the association. . The Minister said he wished to obtain the fullest possible information about the conditions on the Ohai field. He wished to hear the views of the owners. It was his intention then to meet the miners and place before them the attitude of the Government on the urgency of the greatest possible production. After he had met both parties separately he proposed to hold a round-table conference with all parties so that any points at issue might be settled. He hoped that that conference would result in a marked increase in the output of coal in the south. Mr Webb said that there had been some stoppages in the New Zealand coal mines, but it should be remembered that the Dominion had been more free from mining disputes than other countries in the Empire. Yesterday, the Minister travelled to Ohai and held a meeting with the miners. After he had addressed the workers he announced that he wished to hold a conference between the executive of the Miners Union and the Coal Owners’ Association at Ohai this afternoon. This morning the Minister will inspect one of the mines, probably the Linton mine.