MINERAL PRODUCTION.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 43, 21 December 1927, Page 2

MINERAL PRODUCTION.

NEW SOUTH WALES’ RETURNS. (Received This da.v, 1U.15 a.m.) (Electric Telegraph.—Copyright). SYDNEY, TU* day. The Department of Mines estimates that the total valu of the New South Wales mineral production for the year ending December 31st next, will be between £19,000,0000 and £19,500,000. Last year's outpu texeeeded £20,000,000. The Under-Secretary, in a statement, says that the passing of some branches of the metalliferous industry, notably gold and copper, is becoming increasingly evident, but in turn they are being replaced by others which have developed with the growth of the State. For example, the cement, industry now contributes an annual. output equal to that of the gold mines in boom years. It is estimated that the output of coal in 1927 will approximate 10,500,000 tons, w hich is 300,000 less lhan the previous year. The increase in the price of enal, however, will lift the aggregate value of the output to that of the previous year. About 245,000 miners are engaged in the industry and it is estimated that the production of silver, lead and zinc from Broken Hill will exceed 140,000 tons, an increase of over 100,000 compared with 1920, when the value was £576,000. The lowprice ruling for copper preeluded the profitable working of ores. No new discoveries of gold were made.—(A. & N.Z.)