TATU COAL MINE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 6

TATU COAL MINE

ASSET FOR TARANAKI VIEW OF HON. P. C. WEBB RAPID DEVELOPMENT "The people of Taranaki can rest asstired that the Government will push on at the utmost speed the development of the coalmine at Tatu and I have no doubt that it will prove an asset to the province and, indeed, to the whole of New Zealand," commented the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines, in an interview with a Daily News reporter last night. Mr. Webb explained that an extensive survey had been completed and the Mines Department was now prepared to open up the mine in the most economical way. The coal, according to the tests that had been made, was of good quality, he commented, and the Railway Department was using it. The slack would find ready buyers in factories. The Railway Department would make a big saving in freight and so would other consumers. In addition, the shorter haulage would relieve the strain on railway rolling stock, making waggons available for other purposes. Increases in Staff. Applications for the position of manager of the Tatu and Mangapehi mines closed yesterday and the Minister indicated that when the appointment was made the number of men A'orking at the mine would be increased from the present number of 20 as circumstances warranted. The manager would probably live at Ohura. Apart from the benefit to Taranaki, the Government was moved te> take over the Tatu mine by the crisis which developed some months ago. New Zealand was faced with the possibility of a serious shortage of coal because of the increased demands of rapidly expanding secondary industry, the cutting off of supplies to gasworks from Australia because of the strike there and the increased export of bunkering coal for navy and transport purposes. So far this year New Zealand had imported 50,000 tons less coal and had exported 50,000 tons more compared with the first eight months of last year. Production this year was already 120,000 tons ahead of production for the same period of last year, which meant that the output had increased by 155,000 tons since March 31, up to which time, because of flood damage and storm delays to shipping, the production was 35.000 tons below last year. The improvement was largely due to the incresfsed efforts of companies and the men who were working extended hours at ordinary rates of pay. New Zealand was indebted to the companies and the miners for the way they had met the crisis. They had got over the winterwithout rationing Qr the curtailment of essential services and, in fact, without real inconvenience.

Increasing Sppply. However, in view of the increased demand for coal and the difficulties that had been encountered the Government had to look to every quarter to increase the supply. That was one of the factors leading to the opening of the Tatu and Mangapehi mines. It was considered that they would be of great benefit to primary industry and to the people generally, and so the Government purchased the Tatu- mine from the receiver for the debenture holder. Within a week of that action the Mangapehi mine was working and a few weeks later coal was being taken from the Tatu mine. Before embarking on a big programme at the Tatu mine the Government sent two geologists and its foremost mining engineers and inspectors to make a report. As a result i new opening was to be put down in more solid country and three miles • of road had to be constructed. The formation and bridge work was completed. Arrangements were now in hand for driving a return shaft. Test holes had been sunk all round the bluff Showing a depth of six feet six inches of coal artd the results of these bores with the geological data had shown the experts the most economical point at which to open the mine which was of the greatest importance. Mr. Webb' will inspect the mines to-day.