COAL PRODUCTION HIGHER

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 7

COAL PRODUCTION HIGHER

BIG INCREASE FOR THE YEAR. CURTAILMENT OF IMPORTS. By Telesnraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The Minister of Mines has issued a statement of coal production, exportation and importation for the 12 months ended December 31 last. For the three months ended December 31, 1930, production as -compared with the three months ended December 31, 1929, shows an increase of 18,340 tons. The output from brown coal mines increased by 58,305 tone while the output from bituminous and lignite mines decreased by 36,286 tons and 3689 tons respectively. For the 12 months ended December 31, 1930, there is an increase of 28,230 tons when compared with the 12 montns ended December 31, 1929. Bituminous mines increased by 7167 tons, brown coal mines increased by 44,470 tons, while lignite mines decreased by 13,407 ton?. . ■ I' ■ . ’ For the quarter ended December 31, 1930, importations show a decrease of 32,847 tons as compared with the quarter ended December 31, 1929. For the 12 months ended December 31, 1930, a decrease of 57.713 tons is shown when compared with the corresponding period ofi. 1929.. A decrease in exports of 22,857 tons is shown for the quarter ended. December 31, 1930, when compared with the quarter ended December 31, 1929. Comparative figures for the 12 monthly periods of 1930 and 1929 show that there was a decrease of 79,385 tons, for the 1930 period/ The go slow policy existing at the Ohai mine in.' Southland ceased after November 18-and normal work was resumed. The Matchless mine at Reef ton was idle for 29 days from August 9, due to the miners, refusing to work on account of the company supplying coal to a co-operative party, members of which were none -unionsist. At Ngakawau the Westport-Sstockton colliery was idle for 24 days on account of disagreement with the management regarding the sharing of work amongst union members. There were six other ninor disputes, but idleness at any one mine did not exceed four days.