A Departmental Report

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 July 1910, Page 2

A Departmental Report

STATE COAL PROFITS. DEPARTMENT"EARNS NEARLY £5000. Tlie Ski to Coal Department made a net profit of £4909 las year. Itln's enables £2000 to be placed in the sinking fund, and a balance of £2309 carried forward. The net profits of the Point Elizabeth mine were £0439, while the Seddonvillo colliery showed a net balance to 'credit of £191 18s. There was a loss of £2481 on the briquetting plant. The general manager's report states that the Point Elizabetih coal maintains its good: quality, .and the demand exceeds the supply. Good marketable coal is also being produced at the Seddonvillu mine, and there was a considerable increase in the output during the year, mainly owing to the strike at Newcastle and at the Point Elizabeth mine. Out of the total production from both mines, 117,000 tons was sold to consumers other than the Railway Department, the latter taking 38,741 tons of screened coal, 30,533 tons of nuts, and 580 tons of unscreened nuts, but not small. "It might be well to note," adds the report, "that the very large amount of £03,530 was paid for steamer freights." Satisfactory reports are given of tlie business at the Wellington, Christchurch, Dunediu and Wanganui depots. "In conclusion," states the annual report of the department, "it may not be out of place to add a word of warning to those whom it most concerns, that the success of an undertaking such as this is dependent not only upon the idustry of those who are employed, but also the price paid. Tn. other words, if the cost of winning a.nd handling the coal increases, it will be necessary to take into consideration the raising of the selling price."