C.—2.

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

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

Mr. 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, 1939. 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 1939 and 1938 :—

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 £4,132,476, as compared with £3,672,075 during 1938. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1939 amounted to £207,680,483. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. During the year 569,297 oz. of bullion, valued at £1,566,977, was produced, an increase in quantity of 59,538 oz., and-in value of £352,923, as compared with the previous year. The gold content of the bullion is estimated at 178,955 oz., valued at £1,530,857. The estimated gold-production for the past ten years has been as follows : — Year. Oz. Year. Oz. 1930 .. .. 120,931 1935 .. .. 165,277 1931 .. .. 129,861 1936 .. .. 164,575 1932 .. .. 166,354 1937 .. .. 168,487 1933 .. .. 161,755 1938 .. .. 152,050 1934 .. .. 160,248 f 1939 .. .. 178,955

I—C. 2.

1939. : 1938. Mineral. > ; Quantity. Value. L Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. .. 569,297 oz. 1,566,977 509,759 oz. 1,214,054 Platinum 104 1/b „ 7 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. 1,586 tons 3,018 1,218 tons 3,666 Stone .. .. .. .. ... 545,533 .. 555,295 Pumice .. .. .. .. 3,680 5 2 B ,, 11,172 3,046 „ 8,811 Coal .. .. .. .. 2,342,639 „ 2,342,639 2,222,088 „ 2,222,088 Tungsten-ore .. .. .. 41 „ 8,240 45J§ „ 8,604 Manganese-ore .. . . .. 486 „ 1,944 90~ „ 450 Silica sand .. .. .. .. 2,335 „ . 2,227 1,459 „ 1,126 Quicksilver .. .. .. .. „ .. 760 lbs. 190 Fuller's earth .. .. .. 73£g- „ 233 56 tons. 154 Diatomaceous earth .. .. .. .. 332 .. 70 Mica .. .. .. „ 12 Totals .. .. .. .. £4,482,431 .. £4,014,515 * The gold-silver bullion ia generally exported unseparated.