COAL ORDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 59, 10 March 1932, Page 10

COAL ORDERS.

CONCERN IN THE WAIKATO

FOUR MINES MAKE PROTEST. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HUNTLY, Wednesday. Strong protests are being made by four mines in the Waikato on the strength of the information that the Auckland Power Board is making representations that the Government should take .over the uncompleted order for crushed coal, which contract was made some 18 months ago with one of the Waikato mines for three years, but through repairs at Arapuni being finished earlier than expected, has now another 18 months to run. The other four Waikato mines contend that the remaining contract, which the Power Boa I'd is said to be liable for, should be divided, each to receive a share of the orders, instead of the one mine haying the whole of the order, which amounts to 3000 tons weekly, at the rate of 15/6 per ton. At present there is said to be only sufficient work at the other four mines to keep them going on an average of one to two days a week, whereas the mine that has this contract is working almost full time. Telegrams of protest have been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works, and to Messrs. D. S. Reid and H. E. Holland, M.P.'s, and to the Mines Department.