C.—2

1943 NEW ZEALAND

MINES STATEMENT BY THE HON. P. C. WEBB, MINISTER OF MINES

Mk. Speaker,— I have the honour to present to Parliament the annual statement on the mining industry of the Dominion for the year ended 31st December, 1942.

MINERAL PRODUCTION The following statement shows the quantity and value of the production of metalliferous mines, stone-quaries under the Stone-quarries Act, and of coal-mines during 1942 and 1941 :—

* Not available for publication. Note.—Tlie values shown in the above and subsequent tables are expressed in New Zealand currency. GOLD AND SILVER MINING No statistical data is being published in relation to the production and exportation of gold, although it may be mentioned that there was a slight decline in output, due to problems of man-power and equipment difficulties. Sixteen dredges operated in the West Coast District and five in the Southern District. During the year three new dredges were put in service and one suspended operations. MINING PRIVILEGES A total of 224 licenses for mining privileges was granted under the provisions of the Mining Act, a decrease of 163 on the previous year. Of the licenses granted in 1942, 44 were licenses entitling the holders to mine for gold. Altogether 63 mining privileges, including 19 claim licenses and 7 water-race licenses, were struck off the registers under section 188 of the Mining Act.

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1942. 1941. Mineral. ■ 5— Quantity. Value. Quantity. j Value. £ £ Gold and silver ...... * * * * Platinum .. .. .. .. 21 oz. 189 35 oz. 286 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. 2,433 tons 6,576 1,544 tons 3,894 Stone .. .. .. .. .. 539,904 .. 528,313 Pumice .. .. .. .. 3,085 ,, 11,673 3,160 ,, 11 226 Coal .. .. .. .. 2,680,041 „ 2,680,041 2,639,507 „ 2,639,507 Tungsten-ore.. .. .. .. 67 ,, 32,309 67j| „ 13,463 Manganese-ore .. .. .. 321 ,, 1,694 752-2% » 2,995 Silica sand .. .. .. .. 1,875 ,, 2,367 2,034 ,, 2,756 Fuller's earth .. .. .. 138 ,, 434 „ 382 Diatomaceous earth .. .. .. 418f§ ,, 585 ,, 508 Serpentine .. .. .. .. 31,248 ,, 26,038 7,861 „ 6,780 Antimony .. . . .. . . .. .. 17 ,, 249 Bentonite v .. .. .. .. 500 ,, 2,134 136 ,, 578 Quicksilver .. .. .. _ .. 5 ¥ 2 CT „ 11,110 2£$ „ 5,043 Asbestos .. .. .. .. 42|§ ,, 1,035 53 ¥ % ,, 240 Clays .. .. .. .. 2,337 „ 2,376 1,272" „ 1,273 Dolomite .. .. .. .. 3,361 ,, 1,260 2,672 ,, 1,336 Quartzite .. .. .. .. 95 ,, 370 Totals .. .. .. .. 3,320,095 .. 3,218,829