Gradual Decline In Coal Production

Chronicle (Levin), 21 October 1948, Page 8

Gradual Decline In Coal Production

M'ELLTNGTON, Oct. 20. While coal production had been sustained at an appreciably liigher level than that of pre-wur years, there had been a gradual decline in output from the peak year, 1945, when the record production of 2,833,576 tons was acliieved. states the 1947 Mines ytatement talded in the House of Itepresentatives yesterday by the Minister of Mines (Mr. McLaganl. The 1947 production was 2,751,725 tons. The report adds that the decline has been delinitelv arrested during the current year and ]>roduction for the first six nionths of 1948 shows an increuse of approximately 100,000 tons over the same period of 1947. There were 173 mines operating last year. Sixty of these were on freehold land and the rest wholly or predominantly ou Crown laud. Freehold land output accounted for 37 per cent. of the production and Crown land 73 per cent. Coal imports in 1947, at 93,411 tons eompared with 27,185 in 1.946, returued to somewhere near pre-war level. All came from Wyoming ("United States) and was used on the railways. Early this year anotlier Wyoming shipment arrived, making 125,0('0 tons from there, but it was then found necessary to seek an alternative source of suppJ-y Tavo sliipments totalling 18,000 tons were obtained from tlie United Kingdom and later triai shipments from India and youth Africa. The former proved disappointing but the Soutli African coal proved suitable for railwav use. Internal transport diificulties in youth Africa prevented securiug as much of this coal as was desvrable aud this vear's impofts would probably shoAV a substantial reduction. Coal exports in 1947 were 28,035 tons against 27,336 in 1.946. A total of 2,107,033 tons was produced from undergrouud mines, eompared with 2,265,170 in 1946 and 644,692 from open-cast mines, eompared with 528,700 iu 1946. • The output a miaer uader-

ground in 1947 was 504 tons, a decrease of 2.9 tous on 1946, the production a man from undergrouud mines (surfaee and below) was 421 tons or 20 tons less than Ihe previous j-ear. Production a man euiployed iu open-cast mines ivas 1492 tons, au iucrease of 248 tous on 1946. The report says that fhe decline in the underground output last year was due to more difficult mining conditions, shortage of equipmeut required to xnechanise operations aud the reluctauce of men to enler the industry iu spite of improved conditions. Coal production this year had already shown an upward trend and 80 per cent. of tlie iucrease was due to increased pJ'oduction from undergrouud mines. This iucrease has been maintained and. if anything. increased since tlie introduetioo oi: the seven-hour d&y iu April.