STATE COAL MINES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 12

STATE COAL MINES

REQUEST FOR ENQUIRY REFUSED MINERS REPLY TO .MINISTER 'SPECIAL TO THE PR«3S.) GREYMOUTH. November 15. In reply to a petition recently forwarded from Greymouth and the surrounding mining districts and signed by 239 persons, praying for enquiry into the working of the State coal mines, the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister for Mines, states that he feels an enquiry would not be justified and that previously when a similar request was made it was disclosed that the position of the State mines bore favourable comparison with the situation of other West Coast mines.

"The real trouble lies in the industry as a whole, and you arc no doubt aware that the difficulties afflicting the industry are not by any mean; restricted to New Zealand." state.; [Mr Macmillan. "The reasons for the state of the industry in this and other countries is well known, and on this account I have felt that to accede to the requests for a commission of enquiry into the industry would not be justified.

"Similarly I feel." continues tho Minister, "that an enquiry into the State mines in particular would not at the present time be of much real assistance. The increased output from the mines is no doubt what is chiefly desired by the employees and the signatories to the petition, and the staff of the department is doing its utmost to achieve this object. I am pleased to say that tho outlook is definitely improving."'

In answer to the Minister's statement. Mr W. Pendelbury, secretary to the State Miners' Union, said tonight that the Minister's statemen:.: —"What is chiefly desired by min'= employees and the signatories to the petition is an increased output" U incorrect. What was wanted waequal distribution of work instead of the mines lying idle for a week at a time, as the James mine did while co-operative parties in the same district were working every week.

On Monday last Gl trucks had passed down to Rapahoe siding, returning loaded, and yet the James mine had not worked one shift this week. "This is the reason for the enquiry and the matter will not be allowed to drop until an enquiry is granted," concluded Mr Pendelbury.