INCREASE IN OUTPUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1942, Page 6

INCREASE IN OUTPUT

AT WAIKATO MINES. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 12. “In the first week after resumption, .despite various interruptions, the Waikato mines produced 16,152 tons of coal and in the second week 16,832. This was 800 to 1000 tons above the pre-strike average,’’ said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, in an interview today.-- . , , “We had to choose between coal and chaos,” said the Minister, commenting on the arrangement made between the employers, workers, and the Government regarding wartime control of mines. “Making the mines a Government-controlled industry is purely a war measure,” he added. “When the mines resumed a fortnight ago over 60 factories, plus freezing and fertiliser works, were within a week of exhausted coal supplies. . ~ “Had the strike continued for another week, all the industries in the North Island would have closed down.” Discussing the settlement of the strike, Mr Webb said: “Past experience should have taught those who were crying out for the use of the big stick that such methods only aggravate a delicate situation. The miner will not be bludgeoned. Most of them can see reason, and reason ultimately prevailed. Neither the owners nor the Government believed that imprisonment of the men would have got the country out of its- economic trouble.” Mr Webb said that the full powers of the State must be behind a maximum war effort.