C—2

WAIKATO COAL-MINES CONTROL The control over the mines owned by Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd., Eenown Collieries, Ltd., and Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., ceased on the 31st December last bv virtue of the provisions of the Emergency Regulations Amendment Act, 1948. The financial provisions under which the profits of the companies are guaranteed continue to operate, however, until the end of the financial year of each company following the date of revocation of the regulations. In the case of Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., this is 31st March, 1949 ; Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., 31st March, 1949 ; Renown Collieries, Ltd., 31st July, 1949 ; and Pukemiro Collieries, Ltd., 31st August, 1949. During the year ended 31st March, 1949, the sum of £288,449 6s. lOd. was expended in respect of claims for guaranteed profits for companies' financial years ending in 1948 and in administration costs, making the total amount paid to date under the control scheme £878,307 Bs. 4d. The amount paid for the year ended 31st March, 1949, represents final settlement of all claims, with the exception of that from Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., for the year ended 31st March, 1948. In this case a progress payment of £50,000 has been made. In addition, £42,905 was paid to Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., on account of the year ended 31st March, 1949. CARBONIZING AND BRIQUETTING The production of the low-temperature coal carbonizing and briquetting plant of Waikato Carbonization, Ltd., at Rotowaro during 1948 was : Raw coal carbonized .. .. .. .. 25,155 tons. Carbonized coal produced .. .. .. .. 12,326 tons. Average percentage of carbonized coal to raw coal .. 49 per cent. Carbonettes manufactured .. .. .. .. 12,906 tons. Tar and oil treated .. .. .. .. .. 181,115 gallons. Pitch produced .. .. .. .. .. 364 -tons. Light and heavy oils produced .. .. .. Nil Creosite produced .. .. .. .. .. 161,227 gallons. " Char " sold for producer-gas plant .. .. .. Nil " Char " sold for other purposes .. .. .. 621 tons. No briquettes were produced by 'Smokeless Euel and Briquettes (Canterbury), Ltd., during 1948, but 30,218 gallons of tar were obtained from their operations. Negotiations are proceeding to acquire a site at Sockburn, near Christchurch, for the erection of a modern briquetting plant to handle various kinds of slack coal from South Island coal-mines. The plant will be designed by Mr. A. B. Jones, manager of Waikato Carbonization, Ltd., who recently investigated modern practice in briquetting overseas on behalf of the Government. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD There has been no development of consequence in the exploitation of these minerals during the year 1948. As in the immediately preceding years, production of non-metallic minerals has far exceeded that of metallic minerals, and it is of interest that, despite a decrease in value of the production of gold to the extent of £200,000, the value of the total mineral production, with the exception of coal, for 1948 remains practically unchanged from that of 1947 owing to the production of non-metallic minerals having increased in value by a similar amount.

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