STOCKTON COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 4

STOCKTON COAL

QUESTION IN HOUSE

An urgent question .concerning opencast coal mining on the West Coast of the South Island Avas asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato). He inquired from the Minister of Mines whether the Minister would explain the reasons why coal uncovered by the open-cast operations of a private contractor, on the new deposits purchased from the WestportStockton Coal Company had not been quarried Mr. Goosman asked whether the unfortunate delay in producing coal from this area was due to any disagreement between the Minister of Mines and the Minister of National Service (Mr. McLagan), Avho Avas also secretary of the United Mine Workers, on the question of whether those who quarried the coal should be members of the Miners' Union or the Quarrymen's Union. The Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) said that no private contractor had uncoA'ered coal in the Westport-Stock-ton area. Coal had been uncovered by the Public. Works Department, Avhich was continuing its operations. Certain work done by a private company in the area was purely of a preliminary nature. The reply to, the: second part of the question ■ Avas "No."