C.— 2.

1941. 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, 1940. 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 1940 and 1939 :—

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 £4,619,791, as compared with £4,132,476 during 1939. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1940 amounted to £212,300,274. GOLD AND SILVER MINING. During the year 600,995 oz. of bullion, valued at £1,945,707, was produced, an increase in quantity of 31,698 oz. and in value of £378,730 as compared with the previous year.

. 1940. I 1939. Mineral. ; Quantity. Value. | Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* .. .. 600,995 oz. 1,945,707 569,297 oz. 1,566,977 Platinum .. .. .. .. .. .. „ 104 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. tons 2,888 1,586 tons 3,018 Stone .. .. .. .. .. 540,820 .. 545,533 Pumice .. .. .. .. 3,166 „ 10,341 3,680-,% „ 11,172 Coal .. 2,516,099 „ 2,516,099 2,342,639" „ 2,342,639 Tungsten-ore .. . .. 74 „ 16,006 41 ,, 8,240 Manganese-ore .. .. .. 3,266 486 „ l',944 Silica sand .. .. .. .. l,354ig„ 1,569 2,335 „ 2,227 Fuller's earth. ■ .. .. .. 71 „ 248 73£§ „ 233 Diatomaceous earth .. .. .. .. .. .." 332 Mica .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Antimony .. .. .. .. 2 „ 55 Bentonite .. .. .. .. 205 „ 820 Totals .. £5,037,819 .. £4,482,431 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated. Note.—The values shown in the above and subsequent tables are expressed in New Zealand currency.