STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 893, 12 August 1910, Page 6

STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

SHOULD IT BE EXTENDED? Upon a motion that the. Coal Mines Report be laid upon the. table, there was an interesting discussion as to whether the operations of tho State Coal Depart; ment should be 'extended. Mr. POOLF/ (Auckland West) said the time had arrived when the State should establish a coal-mine in the vicinity of Auckland.. If this were done, ,it would wean a substantial reduction in the price .of coal there. It was understood that a valuable coalfield had been discovered on the North Island Main' Trunk line. He hoped that the field would be developed, also that State coal depots would be established at Auckland, Hamilton, and other northern centres.' ',' Mr. E: H". 1 TAYLOR (Thames) stated that within a short period it would bo very difficult, to get firewood at anything like a. reasonable rate in. proximity to j Auckland. The residents in his district ] were at the mercy of a big coal ring. Nobody but a coal agent could get "a truck of coal at the.Thames. ■

Mr. HOGAN (Wanganui) said lie was greatly surprised' at the information which Mr. Taylor had placed before the Housi. If a State coal depot were opened at Auckland it would lead to a material drop in the price of coal. That had been the experience at Wangauui. Auckland coal was being landed at Wanganui at a lower price than State coal there. Mr. Jlassey: The position at Auckland I 3 not such as Mr. Taylor states, exists at the Thames. '

Mr. Hogan said that he'would like to see depots established at Masterton, Palmerston .North, .and■VNewV-Plymouth too. He would be glad if the Hon. R. M'Ken--oie would state whether it was intended to develop the new,coalfield in the Waimarino district. '. * V :

Mr. JENNINGS (Taumarunui) said that coal' was- carried from Hnntly all the way to iVaitara. Ho strongly favoured the opening of the Waimarino coal-field. . Mr. HOGG (Masterton) wished to know how it'was that none of the State coal which was brought into Wellington' ever found its Way into the country districts. Masterton, ,hi particular]' should have a State coal depot. ; He thought that the Government should have its own colliers.'

"Mr.' GLOVER (Auckland Central) declared that the high price l "'of coal was due to tho cost of transit'and distribution. ,He did not think tho owners should bo blamed for. the .present position. There was undoubtedly something radically wrong. He believed that tho owners of some of the mines in tho north might, perhaps, sell out ;toi the Crown at a reasonable price. It would be' better for the-State to acquire a developed mine than to commence operations in connection with a new coal-ficld.' '

Mr. BROWN (Napier) thought that r the Government were doing their best to give the.-people cheap coal.. He agreed that a large number of depots should ;be opened, as had been suggested. The Government might easily open depots at each railway station, instead of. buying dealers out, and having to pay for the goodwill. Mr. MYERS (Auckland. East) regretted that the Minister, for Minos had not seen hi 3 way to establish a coal depot.in Auckland. The Minister gave as. one of his. reasons "that the-price of coal was at present'cheaper in Auckland than elsewhere. He (the speaker) could say that this was not so. Coal was being delivered in. "Wellington, at 28s. per ton, and in Auckland the price was 325. Ho considered the Government might well reconsider its decision in regard to Auckland.

Mr. HARDY (Selwyn) said ho had not r.een any. good State coal in his district. He was against the opening of any further, depots, which would only mean further -loss. - ■' •'

Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Chrktchurch North) supported the suggestion that depots should; be established at the railway stations. i

.'The discussion was then interrupted by the 5.30 'p.m. adjournment..