MINERS’ HOSTEL AT GRANITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 126, 13 March 1950, Page 4

MINERS’ HOSTEL AT GRANITY

BUILDING WORK STOPPED (P.A.) WESTPORT, March 11. “On the evidence 1 have gathered, I find that the- building is not necessary,” said the Minister of Mines (Mr VV. Sullivan), when announcing last night that the plan for building a miners’ hostel at Granity, estimated to cost £G3,000, had been abandoned. Mr Sullivan said that to accommodate 50 men, the building would work out at nearly £ISOO a man, which would be ridiculous. When furnishings were considered, the cost would be closer to £I7OO a man.

“I have found out that there will not be any great difficulty in accommodating single men at Granity, and instead of the hostel I intend to concentrate on building houses for young married men, in an effort to consolidate the populhtion of the mining townships,” Mr Sullivan said. Work was stopped on the building yesterday after part of the concrete foundations had been completed and a weir erected on a hillside to provide water. The contractors will be compensated for the work and other allowances will be made for the cancellation of. the contf-act.

“That cost will be small compared with the cost of .the completed building, and I am glad that I could step in and save what apparently would be a waste of good money,” said the Minister.

Asked if the Government intended to continue with proposals to mechanise State mines in the Buffer district, including the aerial conveyor project at Stockton, which will cost £500,000, Mr Sullivan said that nothing would be stopped that would help to bring out more coal. He was pleased to note such good progress on the big aerial job. .