WESTPORT COAL COMPANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 279, 24 November 1937, Page 11

WESTPORT COAL COMPANY

LARGE INCREASE IN OUTPUT. DUNEDIN, Nov. 22. Addressing the annual meeting of shareholders of the Westport Coal Co., Ltd., to-day, Mr. James Begg, chairman of directors, said the report recommended a final dividend of sixpence per share, making a total of one shilling per share for the year, an unchanged rate. It was satisfactory to record, he continued, that while coal was still having a hard light against its twin competitors of oil and water power, the company had increased its output by 33,897 tons as compared with last year, and by about 70,000 tons as compared with four years ago. This was partly due this year to the Railways Department drawing larger supplies from the bituminous mines of the West Coast. ‘We have been faced during the year with a great many economic problems due to legislation increasing wages and reducing hours,” said Mr. Begg. “While those working underground worked only 40 hours a week previously, the legislation now applies to those working outside the mine, and thus they are not now available during their ordinary working time for the necessary repair work which is such a large part of coal-mining operations, and extra expense is therefore involved in getting this work done. The shipping companies have also found it necessary to make considerable increases in coal freights. These rising costs have made it necessary to increase selling prices, wherever possible, and to readjust our business to the changed conditions, and I trust you will regard the result as not unsatisfactory.” The company had by way of expel iment introduced a coal-cutting machine at the Denniston colliery which would relieve the miners in the district where it was operating of the most arduous part of their work. So far the reports were satisfactory. Owing to better preparation the coal obtained from machine - cutting yielded a larger percentage of lump coal, which was an important matter when slack coal was difficult to dispose of. Only certain sections of the mines were suitable for the working of cutting machines, but it was possible that their use might be extended in the future. The report was adopted and Mr James Begg and Mr. E. C. Hazlett were re-elected directors.