Union blames Govt for coal problems

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 5

Union blames Govt for coal problems

PA Invercargill Southland coal supplies, already down 40 per cent compared with last year, may be even more critical within three months.

The president of the Nightcaps district Miners’ Union (Mr Pat Booth) has said that once the Linton mine is completely finished in two months, and open-cast reserves are strained even more severely, the shortage merchants face could worsen. Mr Booth blamed the Government and the Mines Department. The present ' shortage went back to the late 1960 s when it was decided to phase out the Ohai mines, he said.

In early 1971, production of the underground mines was cut drastically, he said, and a much bigger demand was placed on the open-cast mines. “It has been used up quicker than they expected,” he said.

In the past, the opencast reserves had been used only in the winter months when demand was at its greatest. Once there were three

underground mines, and 400 miners working at Ohai, Mr Booth said. Now there were two mines and only 200 members of the Miners’ Union.

The two underground mines being worked were the Morley, with 22 miners, 12 of whom were still extracting coal by hand methods, and the Linton mine, with eight miners, all working machines. The Morley mine was producing 250 tonnes of coal on a good day, the Linton mine, which was “on its last legs,” usually produced about 180 tonnes.

In two months the Linton mine would be finished, Mr Booth said.

“If we are going to rely on these two mines, there would barely be enough to keep Ohai and Nightcaps going,” he said. “I would blame the bad planning in the late 1960 s for this present situation,” he said.

“The industry has been allowed to be completely run down and reserves have been called upon until there is nothing left,” Mr Booth said.