COAL VALUATION COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26030, 6 February 1950, Page 3

COAL VALUATION COMMISSION

MINISTER’S COMMENT ON OWNERS’ CLAIMS

(New Zealand Press Association} WELLINGTON, February 5. “The member for Riccarton flatters himself by concluding that I evade him or the issue in any way,*’ said, the Minister of Mines (Mr W. Sullivan) last, evening. "The first statement by Mr McLagan which I saw was published in a local paper at Whangarei. It was not as full as the one published in the Wellington newipapers which I read on my return yesterday. “An additional point made by Mr McLagan as published in the local papers concerns the nature of representations .nade by coal owners, and in a further statement he wants to know if they asked for the global sum to be increased. Mr McLagan knows quite well that when the Coal Act was introduced by him, the ownert expressed their fears that the compensation proposed would be grossly inadequate. The owners now claim that these fears have been made certain by the proceedings before the Coal Valuation Commission up to date and information revealed in those proceedings. “The Government has made no decision on these representations, but desires a reasonable opportunity to study the available information and to satisfy itself. that the owners will receive fair and just treatment which is the right of every citizen. I do not intend to have anything further to say on this subject until the Government has made its decision,’* .said Mr Sullivan.