IMPROVED METHODS OF HANDLING COAL CUT DOWN COSTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18008, 19 November 1926, Page 11

IMPROVED METHODS OF HANDLING COAL CUT DOWN COSTS.

REVIEW OF LAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS BY OWNERS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 18. The annual conference of the New Zealand Coalmine Owners’ Association was held to-day. Mr W. D. liolgate, president, reviewing the year’s operations at the mines, said that, with the exception of a few’ minor disputes, work had been carried on with little or no trouble, for which the miners, owners and industry could be congratulated, more especially when the serious position in Britain, caused through the coal strike, was considered. For some years past they had been able to make agreements in conference with the miners by giving some concessions, which might net at the time appear to be large, but when the paysheet was made up it was found that the concessions considerably increased the cost of prodxiction. In order to combat the ever-increasing cost of producing coal, some of the companies had been compelled to adopt an improved method of producing and handling coal. Up-to-date electrical plants had been installed, and electricity was generated at the pit mouth at a very nominal cost for haulage, operating coal-cutting machines, ptimping, lighting and many other uses. Together with good roads laid with heavy rails underground, these, with other improvements, had effected a considerable saving in the cost of production. There was scope for more enterprise in better equipment, as it was only by better and more efficient methods of production that owners could hope to make the mines pay. The. output of 1926 might show a slight increase on account of the Railway Department more New Zealand coal. The combined ability of the mines was, however, far in advance of the demand. It had been anticipated that when the Arapuni scheme was complete it would seriously affect the* sale of slack coal in the North, the same as the introduction of electricity did in the South. Some time ago the owners were given to understand that it was the intention of the Mines Department to ask Parliament to appoint a Mine Control Board. So far the matter had been allowed to stand over. If such a board were to be appointed, he suggested that the matter should receive most careful consideration by the association, and that, instead of a Board of Control, the association should ask the Minister to appoint an Advisory and. Research Board, comprised of experts, where all parties interested would be represented, and that the board should hold office for a term of five years only.

The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr W. D. Holgate; vice-pre-sident, Mr A. M’Kellar; executive. Hon T. S. Weston, Messrs R. Lee, W. A Fla veil, W. Crawford and E. S. Wight.