COAL PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 3

COAL PRODUCTION

THE PROBLEM OF ACCOMMODATION FOR MEN MINISTERS VISIT THE WAIKATO MINERS PLEDGED TG MAXIMUM PRODUCTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. A plan to call in the near future a conference of coal owners and miners’ representatives to survey the coal mining situatidn to enable early preparations for next winter to be made waa announced to-day by the Hon. P. C. Webb. He said he proposed also to confer with, the coal mining companies about providing accommodation for miners. Mr Webb said that, though coal supplies were short during.the winter now; ending, the situation never became really embarrassing. All industries, including electric power boards, were kept supplied with coal, and though householders’. supplies were limited in some places, the full requirement® were supplied as a rule. The Minister said that a question closely associated with coal supplies was the housing of the men. He was reliably informed while in Huntly at the week-end that if the number of men required applied for positions the difficulty would be to find suitable accommodation for them. This was an urgent! problem that much be considered at the earliest moment. An account of the visit paid to tha Waikato mining district at the weekend by himself and Mr Nash was given by Mr Webb. He said that three meetings of miners were addressed. The main point stressed was the importance of everyone doing his best towards maintaining maximum production. “ lo is true that the miners had contemplated a go-slow policy to bring the question or economic stabilisation to a head,” Mr Webb said. “ After hearing Mr Nash’s speeches, however, it is to their credit and proof of their loyalty that they decided by an overwhelming majority not to participate in anything that would injure the production, of coal. Advice to this effect has been received from the miners’ secretary.” Mr Webb explained that Mr NasK and he went to Waikato at the invitation of the Mineworkers’ Federation, Mr Nash being invited to speak on the economic stabilisation plan. The three meetings he addressed were well attended, nearly all the miners in the Waikato , field being present at one or other of them. Mr Nash explained' the many difficulties that all Governments had to face during the war crisis, arid emphasised the importance of all; elements engaged in production giving of their best. He explained at length how the Government was occupied with the cost of living problem, and answered many questions. Mr Webb added that both Mr Nash and himself were delighted with the magnificent response to their appeal for continued production without interruptions. He said that both Ministers had expressed their appreciation of what the miners were doing, but had pointed 6nt> that others were doing the same, and that production was higher in spite of 100,000 men being out of industry. The Ministers, also referred to the magnificent fighting being put up by the Russians against the Nazis, and said* specially, to New Zealand Communists, that the best way to help Russia was to help New Zealand to produce more food and clothing for those engaged in the struggle.