COAL-MINING INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1922, Page 4

COAL-MINING INDUSTRY

POSITION REVIEWED. FROM OWNERS’ STANDPOINT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington,"Last Night. At the fourth general meeting of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association, Mr. William the president, stated that the year under review could not be said to be very encouraging from the standpoint of companies working coni mines. Most of the companies were very short of men, which prevented them from mining all the coal they could sell. When they were just beginning to obtain good results a slump came like a bolt from the blue and caused short time to be worked at many of the mines, with consequently reduced outputs and returns. The shortage of coal during the war had caused the j railways and other large industries to rely upon imported coal. Large orders were placed, the balance of which were only now arriving. Until these were used up, the New Zealand mines would certainly feel the pinch. Referring to the making of awards by the Arbitration Court to govern the conditions in the coal-mining industry, and mentioning that it was felt* the time had arrived for ending the bickering and uncertainty in the industry owing to inoeasant labor troubles, Mr. Reece sincerely hoped the awards would be the forerunner of a better understanding. Office-bearers were elected, as follow; President, Mr. Robert Lee (Kaitangata); vice-president, Colonel Holgate; executive, Sir George Clifford, Hon. E. W. Allison, Messrs. E. S. Wright, W. A. Flavell, T. S. Weston and Wm. Reece.