WAIKATO MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 9

WAIKATO MINES.

MINISTER SPEAKS. LACK OF HARMONY. GOVERNMENT DISSATISFIED. K rorPRICKS AND FRICTION." "The Government is not at all satisfied n itli the frequency of stoppages prevailing in the coal mines, and it is my int- nt i'>n to ask both parties to confer ■with n.e at Hmitly to-morrow in the hop- <>; arriving at a better understandin'.',"' said the Minister of Mines, the H<>ii. P. C. "Webb, when interviewed by a representative of the "Auckland Star" this morning. Mr. W.-bb said he met representatives of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association last evening and discussed th" supply of steam coal to different iml u1 l ies. "I must refrain," continued Mr. Webb. "fr<>m discussing anything relating to the recent deadlock in connection with thn Lower Waikato mines, as the dispute has been referred to the National Pi-piiti's Committee in Wellington, but 1 am very prat i Tied to learn that a settlement lias been arrived at. I am not at all satisfied, however, with the amount of pin-pricks and friction existing in the Lower Waikato, and ¥ *' 1P industry is to prosper, there must be more eo-operat ion and co-ordination on the part of the owners, and a better spirit, of harmony between the miners it nd the managers of the company.

Most of the difficulties arose through misunderstanding, and if the industry is to make headway those misunderstandings will have to he eliminated." Pleasing Features. "Fortunately the conditions in the eoal mining industry have greatly improved," continued Mr. Webb, ''and there is no doubt that the market can absorb all the coal offering. It is pleasing to me to know that as the result of Ilip adoption of uniform screens at the mines the slack waste has been eliminated. Indeed, the screens have had to be enlarged to handle the amount of steam coal required. This means a paving of 100,0(10 tons of coal annually. "Unfortunately for the industry at the moment there is a definite shortage of transport accommodation owing to the iiu in her of sheep being shipped from the Fast Coast districts to Auckland, coupled with the increased use of fertilisers by farmers. The Railway Department has Tiot the wagnns to meet the, demands of the mine*. The Minister of Railways, Mr. Sullivan, lias employed all the tradesmen he ran fret to push on the supply of railway wagons, hut he has been hampered through a difficulty in getting the necessary supplies of steel from abroad. Rut as soon as the supplies of material are available the construction of wagons will he pushed on."

Mr. Webb pair] that he would address three meetings of minors in the Huntly area to-morrow, and bis following engagement would bo to speak at Matamata on Saturday evening.