C.-2

1924. NEW ZEALAND.

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. G. J. ANDERSON, MINISTER OF MINES.

Mr. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament my fourth annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended the 3.lst December, 1923. The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quarries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1923 and 1922 :—

The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, which is shown in table No. 1 accompanying this statement, amounted to £3,423,927, as compared with £3,171,105 during 1922. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 1923 amounted to £153,268,184.

I—o. 2.

Mineral. 1923. Quantity. 1922. Value. Quantity Value. Gold and silver* Quicksilver Tungsten-ore Iron Stone Pumice Coal 692,090 oz tons '..' 3,716 ,, .. 1,969,834 „ £ 7,37,170 520,287 oz. •14 ton 218 81 tons 370,9% 10,029 3,020 „ 1,969,8,34 1,857,819 „ £ 574,988 231 627 318,033 9,320 1,857,819 Totals £3,088,246 £2,761,078 * The gold-silver bullion is generally exported unseparated.