COAL SITUATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 9

COAL SITUATION

RISE IN OUTPUT MINERS WORK LONGER IMPROVEMENT IN OUTLOOK (By Telegraph.—Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday “We have got over the winter without having to ration coal, without having to curtail essential services, and, in fact, without serious inconvenience,” commented the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, tonight, when referring to statistics for the first eight months of the year. Some months ago, Mr Webb pointed out, the country was faced with the possibility of a serious shortage of coal because of the increased demand of rapidly expanding local industry, the cutting off of supplies to gas works from Australia as a result 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 of coal less and had exported 4000 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, production was 35,000 tons below last year. The improvement was largely due to the increased efforts of companies and men who were working extended hours at ordinary rates of pay.