MR. MASSEY ON THE WEST COAST

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 124, 18 February 1921, Page 4

MR. MASSEY ON THE WEST COAST

BUSY DAY AT GREYMOUTH.

Py Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth, February 17. The Prime Minister arrived this afternoon from Hokitika. He met members of local bodies and visited the scene of river erosion. Later he received deputations re local needs from the Grey’ County Council, the Borough Councils of Greymouth, Runanga, Brunner, Cobden Town Board, Miners and AVatersiders’ Union Runanga Co-operative Society, Hospital Board, Progress League, and the Repatriation Committee. Mr. Massey promised favourable consideration to their requests. Later Air. Alassey visited Runanga, giving satisfactory replies re housing and' local improvements. The miners’ deputation stressed the fact that men were leaving because they could not get houses. There was a large crowd in the evening at the Town Hall to welcome Air. Afassey. The Primo Alinister’s speech dealt at length with the need for solidarity of Empire. When he went to Britain lie would stand for greater Impcrial unity. lie spoke optimistically ot the Otira Tunnel as a factor in advancing the AVest Coast. He slated cases proving the success of the soldier settlement policy of tlie Govermnent. _ He stressed the need for public and private industry and economy in the next eightcen months. A. good motto would be. “Take courage and keep "busy.” Mr. Massey dealt briefly with the imancial position, also with gold mining piospccts, expressing the hope that the new. dredging venture at Rimu Flat would lead to a revival of gold production on the Coast. He believed much gold was still to be got in the Coromandel Pemnsula.i The sugar position, said Mr. Massey, was inproving. Regarding immigration, he pointed out Hie restriction against undesirable foreigners, but ue would welcome French people, and others who would lie good settlers. He paid a high tribute to the French people. _ Air. Massey dealt with the coal position. saying the Dominion wanted more production, as we Were importing coal from as far away as Wales, whence a shipload left, only that day. He would do his utmost to niako the miners’ conditions and wages the best possible m order to get more miners, us tno country was losing £3(XI,<XX) per year through having to import coal. He ’hanked the people of the Coast for the splendid \velcome given him at nil places Mr. Massey was later entertained by the local bodies. The. Prime Alinister will leave early in the morning for Reefton and n cstport.