THE COAL INDUSTRY.
BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY,
STATE OWNERSHIP ADVOCATED REORGANISATION OF WHOLE INDUSTRY. i The report of tie inquiry made by the Board of Trade into the coal-mining industry in New Zealand has been published, and the following is a synopsis of some of the findings: In an introductAy paragraph to the summary the report says that the industry cannot be said to have exploited the public during the period of the war; none of those engaged in it has received remuneration that could be considered unduly high under the existing conditions. The industry is one of very uncertain returns, of varying cost, and with labor conditions thai do not appeal strongly to itlie ordinary worker. The experience of ; .the past is not very encouraging for the <jfutur«, and unless certain improvements are made in the organisation of the industry the relative price of coal will continue to rise, and probably rise rapidly. The means of establishing the permanent conditions necessary to prevent or mini,mise such a rise received the board'B Mief consideration, and the main recom-■•-mendatiotts to that end are set out. < IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCTION. The lines of improvement promising to lead to the fullest results* suggested by the evidence heard, lie in the direction of a more efficient organisation of the industry than in any immediate reforms in the technical details of the mining processes. Among the chief disabilities under which the individual mines labor are the-stoppages of work and disturbance of good feeling through industrial unrest, the waste of resources due to the lack of markets (in some cases a permanent lack) for part of their output, and the difficulty of providing such a social environment as will permanently attract a good class of worker.
In view of the undoubtedly strong national interest in the coal supply, the board devoted considerable thought to the question of the desirability and practicability of nationalising the mines, and after considering all the relevant arguments, came to the conclusion that some' form of nationalisation is urgently needed as an essential step towards removing some of the shortcomings of long standing, effecting needed improvements of a positive kind, and avoiding evils that threaten to turn the industry out of the course of healthy and sane development.
The chief aims in suoh reorganisation of the industry appear to be:
(1) The introduction of economies in the cost of producing the output of coal.
(2) The conservation of the coal resources of the Dominion, with due regard to the most equitable distribution of the available supplies as between present and future needs; the systematic and easy development and expansion of the industry to satisfy the growing requirements of 'the community. (3) The concentration of the industry at any given time in the most profitable fields.
(4) The removal of the causes of labor unrest. Subsidiary to this is the institution of proper housing conditions for mine workers.
(5) The inauguration of an efficient system of distribution.
(6) The regulation of coal prices in the interests of consumers.
NATIONALISATION,
After setting forth a fuller explanation of the above aims, the board strongly urges the immediate institution of a Dominion coal board (for development and conservation) of Ave members, consisting of two representatives of the existing coal-mining companies, two of the employees of the companies, and one of the Crown. Such board should be empowered to take over the existing coal companies with their assets and liabilities at valuation, and to issue stock to the existing shareholders in exchange for the shares held by them, at the average market value of such shares for the period of the three years immediately preceding such exchange; such average market value to be calculated and determined by a specially appointed commission. Existing company law should apply to the Dominion Coali Board, but it should be modified wherever required, to permit the board tp exercise the functions necessary to achieve the objects in view. The board should also take over, administer and develop the existing coal mines of the State. The industry should be subject to taxation and rating in common with' all other industries.
Amongst the subjects to which the board should give attention at the earliest moment are: Reference of methods of mining to be followed in new mines to a committee representative of,the best practical and theoretical knowledge, so as to avoid certain present dangers and costly hindrances to production that have followed upon,the adoption of unsuitable methods without due consideration.
BETTER HOUSING. The provision of suitable housing accommodation at the mining fields.—The board strongly recommends that the Coal Board be empowered to impose a levy of 3d per ton on all coal raised in the Dominion, to be supplemented by a 'duty of 3d per ton on.all coal imported, for the purpose of providing interest and sinking fund charges for loans to build houses _ and provide suitable means of recreation for mine workers on recognised town-planning lines. The board is satisfied that the value and probable duration of the industry warrant the step being taken on most of the fields, and that the fund so provided would be sufficient for the purpose. The institution of an easy means of transporting miners from their homes to within reasonable distance of their working faces. (It was asserted that at Rotoware and Fukemiro the output could be increased by 4000 tons per annum if so much of the men's time were not wasted by an inefficient train service.)
The establishment, wherever required, of a motor ambulance depot, with a small dispensary, and a maternity hospital, and any similar facilities for dealing with accidents and providing medical attention and comforts for the remoter mining camps. The transfer of the management of those railways which serve coal mines only to the Coal Board.
The modification of certain parts of the Coal Mines Act. IMPROVING COAL PORTS. The urgent need of improving the coal ports. The further development of the harbors giving outlet to the West Coast allies is » natter ef vital imptrtaoM
to the coal trade of the Dominion. TJpdi • -'■ this depends sot only the regularity «? . '■{ •the supply of bituminous ccahj ; in tj*» v : ; centres of the Dominion, but the Mm N bility of a profitable export teadejjn fht . smaller coals of the districts, and tw : j cheapness of that part of the suppr/ -marketed here. In tht respect parttOH , lar value is attached to the evidence , ! of Mr. C. N. Boult, engineer to the West* port Harbor Board, in which he recommends certain improvements as absolute* ly necessary in his opinion to make the Westport Harbor adequate to the needs of the coal trade. Thorough prospecting of fields whose development promises profitable results in the near future—particularly the In- ' angahau, Reefton and Waikato fields. JUNE WORKERS ON BOARD OF. MANAGEMENT. A feature of the reorganisation reconv mended is the introduction of the mine workers to a voice in the determination of the business policy of the industry, and in the conduct of the management, this being believed to be the way that promised most for tho alleviation of industrial strife and misunderstandings between employer and employee, IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRIBUTION The organisation of distribution' generally much more faulty ancTdefee*. tive than that of production. .A whole chapter in the report is devoted to the shortcomings in this direction. One Witness stated that the establishment of a main depot into which coal could be '■ trucked would save about 3s per ton, and if coal were gent away unscreened from the mine there would be less breakage. The excessive number of men engaged in and the overleaping in deliverls were condemned, Mp in Christchurch and Dunedin. • Complaints were made against the Railway Department in regard to delays in getting delivery of supplies, and .the department's replies are fully set oaf it the r report. * In regard to the methods of handling coal en route there was a difference of opinion among large importers as to the advantage of mechanical discharge front tn 2J| u P. some thinking that there is not sufficient trade to return the cost of the appliances. The use of grabs was generally advocated, and the board found " that the loading into ships at Greymouth and Westport was up to date, as it win done by means of hopper waggon swuwr over the holds. .'■ ' it*. 1 * °I der t0 securo tae general applies- ' iWon of the advantages that result from large-scale distributing businesses, the overlapping in deliveries, the concentration of depotß, and the ownership by the mine-of. the means of transport W* the main distributing centres, the board recommends that the Dominion Coal ' Board be empowered to undertake the business of distributing coal including its carriage by sea.
PRICES. If the above recommendations W adopted the board considers they should result in the lowering of the price of eoa ] relatively to that of other commodities. There are certain wave, hor« ever, in which the demand should bo ■ modified, and which Bhould result in a u°T-f prtce for coal - "8"* to household coal, the chief points to be noted are:
(1) Householders should notify their orders Borne considerable time before delivery is required. This would enable deliveries to be systematise! and reduce the cost appreciably. (2) Coal-bins should be provided wherever possible, in convenient places. .thus economising time and labor to delivery, and, diroinlshing the number of sacks required, and wtendinMthe iTlffo of those used. ' : 0). If unscreened coal were awe generally used for household purpose! the coal bill would be smaller. Then < is much room for improvement in toe prevalent method of stoking domestia ranges and grates, which do not utfl. in to the full the heating qualities of slack an* brown coals. (%?#'increased use of gas and ' elcctrig'Ttoting, substituting an indl. rect for the direct demanf for coaL and freeing more of the supply te ■ industrial uses. ,vT>',; *. The Coal Board, or, failing tution, the Government, is to encourage and financially tuWOmr perimental work which has m utilisation of that part of the coal ply which is at present largely wasted--particularly the slack or fine "coal THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPETITION.
While recommending the institution of a Dominion Coal Board, and unity of administration into the coal industry, the Board of Trade is alive to the necessity of preserving as far as possible the priaciple of competition as a regulator of '■>'. pnee. It,would, therefore, vi«w with . ... disfavor any attempt to discourage the . importation of foreign coals, or to dto- •" criminate against their use. The Coal Board should direct all its efforts to im- ' proving the efficiency of the industry at every point by keeping the capital, labor and management at the highest degree of efficiency. In particular it should encourage and assist scientific and experimental work designed to that end, and should take steps to apply to New Zealand wherever suitable the advances in mining methods that are made abroad. • It should be able to devise a system of healthy, regulated competition among'the mines. The temptation to raise price* k against consumers, which bcsetß all mo- -■ nopolies, complete or partial, especially v where there is an understanding between '"' capital and labor, should bo safeguarded by the representation of the State on' the board, and by the periodical publication of the main facts of the industry in open reports to Parliament.
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Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1919, Page 5
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1,881THE COAL INDUSTRY. Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1919, Page 5
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