C.—2

1944 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, 1943. 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 1943 and 1942 :

1943. j Mineral. Quantity. Value. i Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* 429,936 oz. 1,567,614 477,346 oz. I ' 727 '|^ Platinum 5 „ 47 21 89 Arscnic •• 8 tons 119 8 tonS 126 Asbestos " •• •• ™ » 3 > 986 43 » 1 ' 035 £f ! " 232 1,015 500 „ 2,134 cCf " " :: :: 2,fi ;; msi 2,337 ;; 2 ,.m p n „l .. .. .. 2,787,868 „ 2,787,868 2,680,041 „ 2,680,041 Diatomaceous earth .. .. • • 128 ,, 250 418 ,, 585 Dolomite 3 >5? » 3 > » Fuller's earth .. • • • • 124 ,, 3 ,, Iron-ore 4,988 „ 9,026 2,433 „ 6,576 171 154 EEUi- :: :: »? " 331 - Phosphate .. .. •• 9,241 ,, 1 '' r7 o Pumice M22 „ 12,485 3,085 ,, 11,673 Q uartz * te 61 645 50 '637 31,248 " 26,038 lES •' " :: :: S;?S ;; 41m ;, 2,^ bilica sand .. .. m,m 538,599 Talc " " .. 62 „ 202 15 „ 45 Tunssten-ore " •• 110 » 52 '215 67 „ 32,309 Qdlilver .. •• 7.008 ">■ 7.192 11,TO lb. 11.110 Total. 5,119,010 .. 5,016,111 .! * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated. t Other than for bsiokmaking. Note.—The values shown in the above and subsequent tables are expressed in New Zealand currency.