OFFERED TO STATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 156, 30 December 1944, Page 8

OFFERED TO STATE

ANOTHER COAL MINE

P,A. CHRISTCHURCH, December 29. The possibility that another coal producing area—that of the / Wairaki Coal Company in Southland—will be acquired by the State was indicated, by,the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) when referring .to a rumour that a further State acquisition was contemplated. Mr. Webb said that approaches had been made by the company, and negotiations were under way. He was hoping that satisfactory arrangements would be made for the State to acquire the company's property, consisting of underground workings and an open-cast lease. If the area was taken over by the State it would mean the acquisition of another big coalfield. The company mentioned by Mr. : Webb had its office at Gore, and has a : capital of £10,500. ! The Minister added that all mines ; taken' over by the State had been acquired on a voluntary basis, and he felt that shareholders were pleased to recoup their money. At the moment he had several mines under offer to the Government, both in the North Island and South Island. Early next year he hoped to have an addition to the present State mines, and that would mean continuity ,of employment for the men and improved housing and living conditions. He added that at least 65 per cent, of the | coal produced in the Dominion at present was produced under State ownership or control.