COAL OUTPUT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1769, 27 December 1917, Page 3

COAL OUTPUT.

MINERS MAKE RECORDS. The coal mines of New Zealand have closed down until January 3rd, after a year of record output, considering the difficulties -due to the fact that coalmining, like every other industry is short-handed.. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Mines, gave some details of the way in which the coal output per man has steadily increased since the war began, and he also spoke of the need for further development; of the country’s coal resources, indicating the North Island as the centre of future extension. “Though the number of coal miners has considerably decreased since the war,” said the Minister, “the output has been little affected, for the reason that there has been better organisation in the mines, pillar extraction has been more used, and the miners as a whole have worked harder, and there has Ijeen less absenteeism in all the mining districts, “To show how well the men have worked, it is worth mentioning that in 1914 the annual output per man was 640 tons. It went up to 711 tons in 1915, and to 752 tons per man employed underground in 1916. I am sure that this record has been maintained during the year about ending, and I look forward to equally good results in the new year, when both the owners and miners will co-operate closely to keep up the supply of this very necessary commodity.” , THE MOKAU COALFIELD. “It looks very clear to ns that until we succeed in developing onr hydro-electric power resources,” continued the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, “that we must do all we can to explore and develop our coal supplies. Hydro-electric power is a big thing, and will take a long time to come into general operation, so that we must look to coal for some time yet. Early in the new year I will submit to Cabinet a report I am obtaining from Mr Morgan, Xfirector of the (Sgologieal Survey, upon the Mokau coalfields, in Northern Taranaki. The owners of the area have offered to the Government the mineral rights over about 60,000 or 70,000 acres, containing a large quantity of coal, much of which can Be easily transported down the Mokau river. This waterway can be improved at small expense by straightening one portion. It might also be possible to use much of the land for the settlement of soldiers, k ut this is a matter apart from the mining question which the Government will consider at an early date.”