WESTPORT COAL MINES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2596, 2 September 1909, Page 5

WESTPORT COAL MINES.

THE REDUCTION OF HANDS.

[Per Press Association.] ' WESTPORT, September 1. In connection with the reduction by 200 men of the hands at the local colliery, the following information is published : The annual output of the Westport Coal Company is about 600,000 tons, of which only about 200,000 tons are suitable for screening. The ing of this quantity results m 90,000 tons of screened coal, or 45 per cent., and 110,000 tons of small per cent. The remaining 400,000 tons has to he sold as steam coal. mines can only be worked at their full capacity when the demand for the different sorts is in the above PTpP° r * tions. At nrosent the demand is - for screened coal. Orders for this class of coal cannot ail bo fulfilled owing to the poor demand for steam and small coal. Newcastle coal when screened - gives 80 per cent, of screened ana per-cent, only of small coal. The company will lose heavily bv knocking offa ghiffc at Granity. As trade improves , more hands will immediately he put pn, - but it is doubtful if the second shift |g can be resumed this ffar. The ©ompanv sent a man to the East/; to try and 'open a market there for then coal, , r,; and followed this visit up by a consignment- of coal, but the loss W ; dis-.. astrous, and shipments had to be dis-^ijg continued.