HIKURANGI MINERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 8

HIKURANGI MINERS.

PRIME MINISTER'S CONCERN. RELIEF DRAINAGE MEASURES CLEARING MINE OF WATER. (l>y U"i.-:egrji|>h.—Own t"i.rr<-<p<.n>l<-T]t.) WHAXGARET, this day. The Bay of Ir-lande seat bcin™ vacant, the miners who have been thrown out of employment by the Hoodinp of the Jlikuranjri octal mine have no <lirect Parliaiiientary reproentation to act on their behalf. On bcinj; upprnni-licii. Mr. A. .'. Murdoch, member fur Mar-den, ngreed to take lhe matter in hand. Mr. Murdoch was met ye*terday by Mr. Xrshit and representatives of the miners and lie biter wired the Prime. Minister that the drainage eiipineer be auihuii-ed to make an immediate report on the condition of the affeeteil area ami «urn Hindi country witli it view to -tartinir drainaire operations to relieve the lloodinji of the mine. The work, it i< proposed, would form part of the drainage scheme which is already in operation at the Hikurangi Kwamp. titiiiiii'.v-ly the scheme is intended to embrace a running cut of 40ft by 10ft. If the report of the engineer :« favourable it is hoped that work will proceed at once, thereby saving the endangered mine. Mr. Xe-bit al*o urprd that the Minister of Health should u-e hi« influence in the matter and at the. instigation of MY. Murdoch the latter supplemented the preplan! by telegraphic rc-jiresenta-tions to the Prime Minister. .Sir -loeejih Ward h;i- rejilied tr> note the position of th<- Ilikuranpi coal mine. Tiie Prime Mini-ter states that he will confer witli the Mini-ter of Pulilicr Work-, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, roneernin , .! the representation* and will advice further at the earliest possible date.