1919.] 
Reviews and Abstracts. 
411 
graphs of coal production and consumption (ordinary graphs are also given) 
is beyond the ken of this reviewer. 
The cost of production of coal forms the first phase of the Board’s investi¬ 
gation, and voluminous figures are given. Unfortunately, each mine is 
referred to by a letter only, which letter varies in the different tables, hence 
considerable difficulty arises in co-ordinating the figures. Any one at all 
versed in the industry could probably trace out the various mines easily, 
and so the real utility of this secrecy is doubtful. Surely it would have been 
sufficient to group the Westport, Urey, Waikato, and southern fields. The 
published information does not enable the relative outputs and values of 
household, steam, and slack coal to be gauged, and the report generally is 
mainly concerned with household coal only. 
The average cost of production at the mine has increased from about 
12s. per ton in 1914 to 17s. in 1918, of which the direct labour-costs 
increased by about Is. 3d., and formed roughly 50 per cent, of the total. 
The figures vary so much, however, that an average is of little value. While 
it is probable that the output per miner per year was less in 1918 than it 
would have been if the 1914 standard of diligence had been maintained, this 
is not susceptible of actual rigid proof and can have had but little influence 
on the increased cost of production. The cost of freight and distribution 
form such a large proportion of the total cost of coal in New Zealand that 
the output and wages of the miner have little influence on the selling-costs, 
unless carried to unusual limits. 
The conclusions are arrived at that there has been no undue profits 
made by any coal-mining company in New Zealand during the last few 
years; that the freight charges of the shipping company are less than are 
being charged by other and foreign companies; that both the wholesale and 
retail distributor could fairly look for a better return than they are receiving ; 
and that the price of coal can be reduced only by improved and more 
economical methods of mining, transport, and distribution. The detail 
recommendations hardly promise to effect much in this direction, but the 
suggestion that a Coal Board should be set up is a far-reaching one. It is 
suggested that the existing companies should be consolidated under the 
directorship of a Coal Board of five members—two appointed by the existing 
companies, two by the employees, and one by the Crown. The details are 
vague, but it is impossible to disguise the fact that the intention is to take 
over compulsorily the interests of the shareholders and pay for them by 
shares in a new concern, the management of which will be in alien hands 
and the profits of which will be reduced by bonuses to employees on a 
profit-sharing principle. This arbitrary action is probably justified by the 
fact that the companies have certainly failed to create such conditions of 
housing and living as would attract and hold labour, and possibly the real 
interests of the shareholders will be benefited by the creation of what is 
virtually a trust, which will presumably undertake its own sea transport 
and wholesale and retail distribution. It is doubtful whether the un¬ 
restricted importation of foreign coals, which is recommended as a necessary 
safeguard, will entirely curb the monopolistic power of the combine, but the 
situation to-day is desperate enough to demand a desperate remedy. 
It is regrettable that no engineer was associated with the Board of 
Trade in this inquiry, as the question of transport hinges largely on the 
'construction of a new harbour at Point Elizabeth, with big steamers and 
power loading and discharging apparatus at the main ports, and this ques¬ 
tion has been entirely ignored ; as also has been the question of powdered 
