OPEN-CAST COAL AREAS

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22355, 23 May 1944, Page 2

OPEN-CAST COAL AREAS

PRODUCTION BEING INCREASED AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Sinc& the first of the open-cast mining ventures had begun early this year about 15,000 tons of coal had been obtained, declared the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines, after his visit to Huntly during the week-end. He said the present daily outDut was over 400 tons, and as other sites would be opened up almost ac once it was expected there would be a daily output of about 2000 tons by the end of the year. The Minister said he was well pleased with the present efforts of the miners. Absenteeism had now dropped to three or four per cent, as compared with 14 per cent five or six months ago, which had caused a loss of about 30,000 tons of coal from the Waikato mines. Investigation showed that of present-day absenteeism not more than one per cent was due to other than accident or sickness. Mr Webb stated there was a possibility of limited supplies of Newcastle coal for gas-producing being obtained.

Referring to the open-cast methods of coal production, Mr Webb said three units were actually producing in the North Island, situated at Glen Afton, Kimihia and Waitewhenua, a few miles from Taumarunui, while in the South Island there were ten units. It was intended to develop other known coal measures, and preliminary development had taken place in six localities, three of them in the North Island. There would be no avoidable delay in obtaining production, and in some cases private individuals or companies owning siU+oMp machinery had been granted contracts for stripping and carting the coal to the nearest railhead.