Coal Mining continued

By 1930 another company - Griffin Coal Mining Ltd had been formed by local businessmen, prospectors and miners.  It operated as a small company for many years, surviving the Depression of the 1930s. Between 1930 and 1935 coal prices remained relatively stable, dropping just 25%, while overall production continued at a similar level. During the Second World War the industry rebounded as the price of coal rose. At this time the industry struggling to meet the increased demand for coal. Only after 1945 were intensive mechanisation methods introduced in an attempt to increase productivity. High capacity loaders filled broken coal into shuttle cars, which in turn delivered coal to conveyor belts. At this time continuous miners, machines which simultaneously break the coal and load coal onto shuttle cars, were first used.