PRICE OF EXPLOSIVES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17472, 5 June 1922, Page 4

PRICE OF EXPLOSIVES.

ANOTHER REDUCTION TO BE MADE. The Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson), who has received many complaints regarding the prices of explosives, stated at the week end that as a result of his discussions with the manufacturers a reduction would be made next month, and a further reduction in October. A third reduction is promised at the end of the year. The amended charges will give material relief to the miners.

During the period of the wax the selling prices of permitted explosives, like most other commodities, increased considerably. Prior to the making of the national agreement on February 23rd, 1920, the coal hewers had to pay selling prices current for the explosives used by them in winning coal, but that agreement required the colliery owners to supply explosives to the miners at reduced prices, involving in some cases a considerable loss to the owners. This practice continued until the several district colliery awards, made by the Arbitration Court, came into operation in January last, when it was provided that the miners should pay whatever prices were being paid by the colliery owners for 6uch explosives. Complaints have from time to time been mado as to the prices charged for permitted explosives. The Minister said on Friday that the matter had been engaging the unremitting atten* tion of the Mines Deportment, since June, 1920. The manufacturers of th<* bulk of permitted explosives used in the Dominion were then strongly urged to reduce the prices, and from time to time si nee that date they had been pressed to make reductions. _ During the past few weeks the Minister and his Under-Secretary have had a number of interviews with the manufacturers' Australasian representative, who was urged, as a matter of vital necessity to the- miners, to make a further reduction in price. The representative Jproducedi the original cost-sheets of manufacturing the explosives at the company's factory at Deer Pairk, tori a., income tax and other data, for inspection and investigation by the Mines Department's officers.. The documents were closely etrutinieed, and they did not appear to indicate that the manufacturers' factory prices were excessively high, bearing in mind the increased nrices which the company had to pay for ingredients. It was pointed out by the Minister that alterations could . be made in handling the explosives, and that the soiling organisation could be altered so ] as to materially reduce the handling ! and overhead charges. Within the pnst few days the Minister hasi been advised tlxat the prices ,vill be reduced considerably as from October Ist next, the date the amended selling organisation is to lie- brought into operation. It has also been intimated to the Minister that an interim reduction in the prices will be made from July Ist next, based upon the reduced manufacturing costs-over two six-month'y periods. In consequence of a new contract having been let for the supply of glycerine at a- fairly substnntial reduced price, which comes into operation in November next, a still further reduction to the consumers of permitted explosives will be made as from January Ist next.