COALMINE OWNERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12608, 19 November 1926, Page 7

COALMINE OWNERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE YEAR’S OPERATIONS REVIEWED CAPACITY GREATER THAN DEMAND Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 18 The annual conference of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association was held to-day. Mr W. D. Holgate, president, in reviewing the year’s operations at the mines, said that with the exception of a few minor disputes work had been carried on with little or no trouble, for which miners, owners, and the industry could be congratulated, more especially when the serious position in England, caused through the coal strike, was considered. For some years past they had been able to make agreements in conference with the miners by giving some concessions which may 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 evermore asing cost of producing coal, some of the companies had been compelled to adopt an improved method of producing and handling coal. Up-to-date electrical plants had been installed to that end. . Electricity was generated at the pit mouth at a very nominal cost for haulage, operating the coal cutting machines, pumpteg. lighting and many other uses, together with good roads laid with heavy rails underground. These, with other improvements, had effected a considerable saying in the cost of production. There was scope for more enterprise in better equipment, as it was only bv a better and more .efficient method of production that owners could hope to make the mines pay. INCREASED OUTPUT The output of . 1926 mav show _ a slight increase on account of the Railway Department using more New Zealand coal. The combined ability of the mines was, however, far in advance of the demand. It has been anticipated that when the Arapuni electrical scheme is complete it will seriously affect the sale of slack coal in the north, the same as the introduction of electricity did in the South. Some time ago the owners were given to understand it was the intention of the Mines Department to ask Parliament .to appoint a mine control hoard, but so far the matter has been allowed to stand over. If such a board was to be appointed he suggested the matter receive most careful consideration by the association, and that instead of a board of control tbe association should ask the Minister to appoint an advisory research board comprised of experts, where all parties interested" would he represented, and that the board hold office for a term of five years only. The election of officers resulted as follow: President. Mr W. D. Holgate; vice-president. Mr A. McKtilar: executive. Hon. T. S. Weston, and Messrs R. Lee, W. A. Flavell, W. Crawford and E. S. Wight. * * 4