C.—2

1939. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. P. C. WEBB, MINISTER OF MINES.

Me. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament the annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1938. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1938 and 1937 : —

The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in Table No. 1 accompanying this Statement, amounted to £3,672,075, as compared with £3,916,176 during 1937. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1938 amounted to £203,548,007.

I—C. 2,

1938. j 1937. Mineral. Quantity. Value. j Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 509,759 oz. 1,214,054 612,468 oz. 1,319,743 Platinum .. . - • ■ • • „ 7 55 ,, 423 Iron-ore .. .. •• •• 1,218 tons 3,666 571 tons 880 Stone •• 555,295 .. 444,837 Pumice .. .. •• 3,046 ,, 8,811 2,931 tons 8,057 Coal .. •• •• •• 2,222,088 „ 2,222,088 2,277,799 „ 2,277,799 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 45£-g-,, 8,604 6,468 Manganese-ore .. .. .. 90 ,, 4-50 5 „ 50 Silica sand .. .. .. •• 1,459 ,, 1,126 164 „ 236 Quicksilver .. .. .. •• 760 lbs. 190 1,344 lb. 336 Fuller's earth .. .. .. 56 tons. 154 Diatomaceous earth .. .. .. •• 70 Totals .. .. .. .. £4,014,515 .. £4,058,829 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated.