C—2

1946 NEW ZEALAND

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. J. O'BRIEN, 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, 1945.

MINERAL PRODUCTION The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, quarries, and coal-mines during 1945 and 1944 :

1945. 1944. Mineral. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. £ £ Gold and silver* 372,908 oz. 1,389,959 470,568 oz. 1,518,119 Platinum Arsenic 17 tons 306 16 tons 284 Asbestos 31 cwt. 31 17 „ 340 Bentonite 167 tons 800 360 „ 1,640 Claysf 8,251 „ 5,408 6,668 „ 4,335 Coal 2,833,576 „ 4,250,364 2,805,970 „ 2,805,970 Diatomaceous earth 255 „ 446 55 „ 94 Dolomite 4,644 „ 2,322 3,931 „ 1,474 Fuller's earth 76 „ 273 106 „ 387 Iron-ore 6,067 „ 14,648 6,036 „ 11,550 Magnesite 111 „ 100 103 „ 93 Manganese-ore Mica 882 lb. "882 292 lb. " 292 Phosphate 7,956 tons 2,188 19,931 tons 20,551 Pumice 2,183 „ 9,163 2,931 „ 11,856 Quartzite 39 ., 71 47 „ 85 Serpentine 13,933 „ 3,329 37,711 „ 10,373 Silica sand 20,009 „ 45,066 24,319 „ 57,395 Stone 710,448 627,033 Talc 25 „ 10 Tungsten-ore 34 „ 10,360 145 „ 67,081 Quicksilver 2,294 lb. 2,294 6,840 lb. 6,840 Totals 6,448,458 5,145,802 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated. t Other than for brickmaking. Note.—The values shown in the above and subsequent tables are expressed in New Zealand currency.