COAL MINE OWNERS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 3

COAL MINE OWNERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE INCREASING PRODUCTION COST STRESSED Dominion Special. Auckland, November 18. The annual conference of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association was held this morning, the president (Colonel W. D. Holgate) being in the chair. In his address, the president, reviewing last year’s operations at various mines, with the exception Of a few minor disputes, said the work had been carried on upon the whole with very little or no trouble, for which both miners and owners could be congratulated, more especially when they considered the serious position in England caused through the coal strike. For some years past they had been able to make agreements in conference with miners by giving some concessions which might not at the time appear to be large, but when the pay sheet was made up -it was found the concessions considerably increased the cost of production In order to combat the ever-in-creasing cost of producing coal, some of the companies had been compelled to adopt an improved method of producing and handling. Up-to-date electrical' plants had been installed, and electricity was generated at the pit mouth at a very nominal cost for haulage, operating coal, cutting machines, pumping, lighting, and many other uses, together with good roads laid with heavy rails underground. These, with other improvements, had effected a considerable saving in the cost of production. There was scope for more enterprise in better equipment, as it was onlv bv a better and more efficient method'of production that owners could hope to make the mines pay. The coal output of New Zealand mines for the year ended 1925 was 2,083,207 ton?., said Colonel Holgate, which showed ati increase of 31,788 tons as against the output of 1924. lhe output of 1926 might show a slight increase on account of the Railway Department using more New Zealand coal. Tb» combined ability of the mines was, however, far in advance of the demand. Some time ago the owners were given to understand that it was the intention of the Mines Department to ask Parliament to appoint a mine control board. So far the matter had been allowed to stand over. If such board was to be appointed he suggested that the matter receive the most careful consideration by the association, and that instead of a board of control the association should ask the Minister to appoint an advisorv and research board comprised of experts, where all parties interested would be represented, and that the board hold office for a term of five vears onlv. The companies represented were the Tatiniri, Hikurangi, Puketniro, Waipa Railway, Paparoa, Blackball, and Westnort Coal Companies, Wilson’s and the Grev Valiev collieries, and the Southland Mine Owners Association. The election of officers resulted : President, Colonel Holgate; vice-president, Mr. McKellar; executive, Hon. T. S. Weston. Messrs. R. Lee, W. V Flavell, W. Crawford, and E. S. Wight.