Mining interests hold meeting

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 14

Mining interests hold meeting

(From Our Own Reporter*

GREYMOUTH, April 22

A meeting in Greymouth today of coal merchants and State and private miners’ and management representatives was indicative of harmony in the industry, said the new president of the South Island Coal Merchants’ Federation (Mr K. Sullivan, of Dunedin).

•‘Coal is booming at the moment, and we are all prepared to do our part if waggons become available,” Mr Sullivan told the meeting, called to discuss problems arising from petrol price increases. The president of the Runanga State Miners’ Union (Mr H. Pattison) said the biggest problem was

moving the coal from the mines to the merchants.

“We will produce it, but it has to be transported. We do not want a repetition of last year where Timaru ran out of coal and it was stockpiled here awaiting waggons.” MINES’ PROBLEM

It was decided to approach the Government about problems of private mines arising from a recent 70 per cent increase in power charges to them.

Mr Sullivan said it was noteworthy that the motion was moved by a merchant and seconded by a State miner.

Some mines had been forced to close because they could not meet the higher electricity charges. “These mines are producing good coal and we cannot do without it,” he said.