N.Z. MINERS SET EXAMPIE WITH 7-HOUR DAY

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1948, Page 5

N.Z. MINERS SET EXAMPIE WITH 7-HOUR DAY

Over 50,000 Tons More Coal in April P.A. WELLINGTON, June 2. The Minister of Mines, Hon. A. McLagan, announced to-day that the production of coal for April showed an increase of 51,893 tons compared with the output for April, 1947. For the four months ended April, the total production was 85,385 tons higher than for the corresponding four months of last year. The greater part of this increase had been ootained from the underground mines, which, for the four months, showed an increase of 77,336 tons, as compared with the first four months of last' year. The Minister said that the increased output for April was particularly gratifying, because it was the first month during which the seven-hour day had been in operation. As one of the conditions of the institution of the seven-hour day, the miners pledged themselves to use every efiort to maintain the output of coal. They had not only kept their pledge, but actually, with a shorter working day, had succeeded in making a splendid increase in the output. This was very gratifying indeed, and was a complete answer to the Government’s critics, who had been unsparing in their condemnatiop of the seven-hour day. The production of coal in the Dominion for April, 1948, was 248,754 tons, as compared with 196,861 tons for April, 1947. For the four months ended April, the total production amounted to 899,922 tons, compared with 814,539 tons for the corresponding period of last year.

Taupiri Mines— Purchase by State

AUCKLAND, June 2. Negotiations with the Government as to the value of coal measures and the undertaking of Taupiri Coal Mines Ltd., are proceeding, according to a statement made by the chairman of the company, Mr J. B. Donald, to the annual meeting. Mr Donald said that the directors confidently believed from their discussions with the Minister of Mines that it was the intention of the Government to accord full recognition to the undoubted value of the company’s assets. Any proposal which the directors could recommend would be placed before shareholders for consideration as soon as it was possible to do so. The present sound position of the company, both as regards extensive coal measures, working policy, and the equipment of the mines had been built up by the long-sighted policy adopted during the last halfcentury. There was obvious difficulty in any kind of long-term industrial planning while the present position relating to nationalisation of mines continued. During the year the company’s two underground mines produced 176,843 tons of coal, an increase of 17,432 tons.