COAL OUTPUT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 9

COAL OUTPUT

GLEN AFTON COLLIERY REDUCTION OF 29,356 TONS Reference to the disaster at the Glen Afton Colliery in September of last year when the manager, Mr Blackburn, 'and ten other leading officials and miners lost their lives, was made by Mr A. Hayward, chairman of directors of Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd,, in his annual report to the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd. Mr Hayward stated that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry had been published. A new stone drive was being constructed which, when completed, would enable that sector of the mine affected by the disaster to be again worked and further developed. “Due in part to the disaster, the output of coal from the company’s mines for the past year shows a reduction of 29,356 tons,” said Mr Hayward. “Of the total output of 202,298 tons the company’s factories consumed 41,910 tons and suppliers 10,804 tons, the balance being disposed of to the railways, Power Board and the general public. Subsidy from Government “The agreement with the mine, workers expired on April 30. After negotiations, a new agreement was entered into commencing as from May 27, in which a 5 per cent increase in hewers’ and piece rates, and a 7$ per cent increase on day wage rates, were incorporated. This, among other concessions, would have necessitated an all-round increase of Is 6d a ton in the price of coal, but the Government decided to meet the position by a subsidy for that amount.

! “It is of the utmost importance to get as many as possible of the suppliers’ coal orders out in the summer months for the economical working iof the colliery business. The demand for big coal from the public . is at its height in the winter months, I and it often happens that the mine j has to slow up production in the summer months because of a short- ; age of orders for big coal. It has been the practice for many years to give suppliers rebates during the summer months, and this year from October 1 to February 28 those re- • bates will be increased.”