Greymouth District Still To Press P.M.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 26

Greymouth District Still To Press P.M.

(New Zealand Press Association* GREYMOUTH, August 21. Though the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has turned down a plea from Greymouth mining and business interests to postpone the closing of the Dobson mine a meeting in Greymouth this morning decided to press the district claims further.

The meeting was among the signatories to a letter to the Prime Minister which asked him to postpone the closing of the mine from September 30 to December 20.

These signatories were five prominent Greymouth businessmen representing a number of local authorities and ad hoc bodies, and the secretary of the composite coal committee, Mr R. F. Beadle. Mr Beadle said after the meeting that they were not satisfied with the Prime Minister’s reply that the mine must close at the end of September. A closer study of the individual effects on the displaced miners had been possible since the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) made the closing announcement three weeks ago, said Mr Beadle. This study had shown that the difficulties arising from the September 30 closing would be critical for the miners who could not find

alternative work, said Mr Beadle. There had been sufficient evidence in the earlier submissions to the Prime Minister to show that these difficulties could be alleviated by “phasing out” Dobson over a longer period culminating at Christmas, he said. •Nothing Fresh’

In his reply Mr Holyoake said that the Government had not been persuaded that the submissions contained any fresh information that would justify a change in the Government’s decision.

Mr Holyoake added that the Government considered that a decision to postpone any longer would only add to existing difficulties. Mr Beadle said that the difficulties were much more apparent now and that probably all the men concerned could be placed in mines or alternative employment if a “stay” was granted till December 20. AU Coal Sold

Referring to Mr Holyoake's reference to the cost structure at Dobson, Mr Beadle

said there was no coal at the moment being dumped—all was being sold. He was certain that all the coal mined under the “phasing out” conditions would be sold and thus the cost structure would be more economic. At present there are 141 left working at Dobson. Of these, roughly 80 men had indicated that they would accept the Government’s rehabilitation payout and seek other jobs. “But only very few of these have got jobs to go to,” said Mr Beadle. The further representations to attempt to have the mine closing postponed till Christmas will be made through the new Commis, sioner for the West Coast (Mt D. B. Dallas).