WEST COAST COAL MINES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13428, 21 May 1909, Page 8

WEST COAST COAL MINES.

INSPECTION BY MINISTER FOR

RAILWAYS.

SOME INTERESTING REMARKS

(BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

WESTPORT, May 20.

The Minister for Railways (the Hon. J. A*. Millar) spent to-day in the heart of the coal mining district in the vicinity of Westport. The journey from tho town along the Mokihinui section was most enjoyable. The weather was delightful, and the picturesque country through which the line passes was.wearing its best appearance. The land immediately alongside the line has been roughly cleared 'of timber, and has the rather desolate aspect which invariably distinguishes sucn areas on the Coast.. However, back from the ime lay the everlasting hiils, beautiiul in their garb ot luxuriant torest. The railway cuttings on t«o line are rather remarkable, as they are covered with lovely growths ot terns, mos&es, and creepers, wmch make almost fairy grottos of them. A view of the Denniston wonis was secured from the line, iney frown down on the valley from precipitous heights, and tho trucks as they near the top of tiie line loon like small boxes <jn tiny wheels. Time did not permit of a visit to Denniston, and tho. journey was continued to the terminus of the Mokihinui line. This usei formerly to servo tho Upper Mokihinui mine, which has been closed for some considerable time. A formal inspection of the line was made, and then the party returned to Seddonville. It had been intended to inspect the Stat© niino works, but several local deputations occupied all the time available. The Seddonvillo mine, which was the old Westport-Cardiff, now employs 100 men, and has an average output of ISOO tons per week. The small coal is used for the manufacture of eggettes and briquettes, which are made in tho Westport part. Tho Ministerial party was welcomed at Ngakawau by Messrs G. Broomo'and S. W. Thornton, representatives of the Westport-Stockton Coal Company, and were escorted ovor tho engine room, power-house, and bins. The mine, which was formally opened in October last, employs about 120 men, and has an output of 400 tons for one day working shift of eight hours. It is anticipated that the output will be increased, to 500 tons next week, and in the event oft trade warranting two shifts an output of 800 tons per day could be reached. It is stated that the plant, including electric locomotives for haulage, is working very well. The formation of a double track has been completed, and when rails have been laid it will merely be a question of putting on more locomotives and tubs to increase the shift output. The visitors were greatly impiesised with the magnitude of the work done in opening the mine. The hills are heavily wooded, and tho pioneering work of opening up must have been extremely arduous.

The Mokihinui line is, the visitors found, in an entirely different position to the ordinary railways of the Dominion. All the profits above working expenses are paid to the Westport Harbour Board as an endowment, and as the line pays over 10 per cent;, the Board rakes in thousands a year into its coffers. Under theso circumstances tho Minister had no difficulty in dealing with tho deputations which asked for increased railway facilities. He informed them plainly enough that if he had only the Railway Department to consider he would refuse requests which involved a loss to the Department. However, if the' Harbour Board were prepared to lose part of their revenue in order to provide increased facilities* he would not bo able to object. This was. of course, simply referring ; the deputations to tie Harbour Board, which may or may not make favourable recommendations.

One very important matter .was brought up by Mr Broome, the engineer in charge of the Stockton mine, who urged tliat the charge for haulage of coal should be reduced.

Personally the Minister was decidedly sympathetic; but he pointed out that a reduction was contingent on the consent of the Harbour Board. On a request for a railway station on the Stockton eido of the-Ngakawau bridge ho said that ho would have a report from the Department officers prepared. After the inspection" of the mine plant had been completed, the Minister was entertained at dinner by the mine proprietary* Messrs Broomc and Thornton representing the company. The health of the Minister was proposed by Mr Broome, who again referred to tilt* suggested reduction of tho cost of haulage. Ho pointed put that in coalmining every extra penny in charges counted, and that a small redijction might mean much to coalmines on the line*.

The Minister, in reply, said tlitit he fully appreciated the value of tho tra&e of Westport to the Dominion as a -whole/ 'He had to congratulate his friends oa tho West Coast on the fact that they -were not backward in asking -what they wanted. Mrßroome, in referring to coal freights on the line, had mentioned a matter of immense importance, as they were aware that the profits of. the Jine were given to tho Wcstporfc Harbour Board as an endowment, and it must bo admitted that very good use of the money was made by tho Board. It appeared to him, however, that, if New Zealand coal was to hold its own on the market, tho cost of production would have to bo reduced to a minimum. Day after day there was an increasing amount of Newcastle coal coming into this country, and he had information that another large company was chartering large colliers for tho purpose of bringing Newcastle coal to New Zealand and taking timber away from Kaipara. Tho importation of coal must mean a reduction of the local consumption of New Zealand coal. The mines of the Dominion had not reached their maximum of production by a long way, and he wonld .like to see existing mines finding a market for their maximum output before any other coal came in. The revenue of the Harbour Board was growing very rapidly, and last year it reached £86,000. If the Board, after taking the financial position into consideration, found that the port could stand a reduction from railway revenue, he could assure them that the Government wou]*l be only too glad to gazette a notice reducing the haulage prico of coal on the section. However, the efficiency . of the port was the principal thing, and the Board would have to see that they did not cripple their finances to euch an extent as to hamper them in improving the port. Referring to tho possibility of an export coal trade, Mr Millar said that he thought tho mines should endeavour to supply the local demand before looking for outside markets. He was afraid that at the price Newcastle could be bought f.0.b., the prospects of an export trade from New Zealand were somewhat small until prices could be reduced. The Minister paid a warm tribute to the energy and enterprise which had been displayed in developing New Zealand mines. It was almost appalling to see th© magnitude of the works which had been cheerfully undertaken. They must admit that laboursaving had been brought to perfection, acd that so far as companies were concerned, they were endeavouring to lower the cost of production to the lowest possible point. He understood that £175,000 had been invested in the

Westport-Stockton mine,, and he was sure that even-one in the Dominion wished tho company success. (Applause.)

A further reference to the same subject was m?.de by -Sir Millar when replying to a deputation from the Westport Chamber of Commerce, which aske<l for increased railway facilities on the line. He pointed out that the wholo matter lay with tho Harbour Board, and that if tho Board were satisfied to reduce their revenue from the railway, ho did not see that the Department would have any cause to object. The Board, however, must not imagine that they were going to get unlimited borrowing powers. They already had a loan of £200.000 for'harbour irpjyrovement. Parliament vms going to be very chnrf in furure in regard to, borrowing by local bodies, as borrowing hnd been going on at euch a rapid rate that it was getting beyond the means of the country. There would have to be a curtailment of borrowing both by the Government and by local bodios, as there had been by private people, until the country was re-estab-lished in a sound position. As to the requests-of the deputation, ho thought thnt in the interests of tho T)ominion and of Westport itself it would be bettor if the Harbour Board could afford to lose £4000 from their revenue to reduce railway hiulage charges on coal. This would enable the local article to compete more successfully with Newcastle coal, and find work for people in New Zealand which was at present being found for people in Australia.