The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1932. COAL MINING.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1932. COAL MINING.

The question of a strike of coal miners in Australia is again looming, as a protest against recent wage reductions and its effect, if it comes to pass, on New Zealand conditions has been' the subject of some enquiry. It is mointed out that owing to repeated strikes th© Australian coal trade has been reduced to a great extent during recent years and 1 that so fair as experts to New Zetland were concerned the figures were almost infinitely small complained with what they were some years ago. Th© total consumption of New Zealand coal in the Dominion in 1924 was 2,100,000 tons, and in the same year 800,000 tons of Australian coal were imported. In 1930 the consumption of New Zealand coal had risen to 2,700,000 tons, while the importation of Australian coal amounted to a mere 200,000 tons. In other words, the importation of Australian coal had decreased 1 in tern years to a quarter of what it was. The position in 1931 was even worse in regard to Australian coni, the figure having shrunk to 100,000 tons. At one time it whs usuial for shipping to go to Newcastle to pick up a load of coal for different parts of the world hut. owing to the prevalence of strikes i the Australian mines, continuity of supplies could not be depended upon, in consequence of which th© trade fell away. Ooal used to be exported to the East and

to South America in large quantities, and it was not uncommon some years ago to see as many as 200 vessels in Newcastle waiting to take til© loading berth. , O'wing, however, to the uncertainty- of'getting a freight without unnecessary delay, ships whose charterers could not afford to pay demurrage amounting frequently to £IOO 'Per day, were rent elsewhere. Coal was ip reduced in many other countries and afthough the quality might not be equal to Australian, the fact that- it could be obtained without delinly, resulted in the loss of much of i the trade. At the present time most of the- coal used in the Dominion railways is mined in New Zealand, and a similar position obtains in regard to .gasworks, which all have good . stocks on hand. Although the average' yearly consumption of New Zealand coal in the Dominion .'is -about. 2,000,000 tons, the figure could hie raised to 3,000,000 tons were it not for the fact that hydro-electricity has been developed to such' an extent. - This is hound to have an effect on the requirements of the future,' and is one of those after effects of the introduction cf electric power, which will cause a reduction of output' add the following unemployment of mining, labour,