WEST COAST MATTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1920, Page 5

WEST COAST MATTERS

MINISTERIAL REPLIES,

TO MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS,

THE DOBSON COAL MINE,

(Special to the Star.)

WELLINGTON, October 4,

'‘There is no statutory, authority which would compel or empower me to publish a recommendation or award in connection with the issue of a lease respecting the Dobson Coal Mine,” stated ’the Minister of Mines, in reply to Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon. He added; ‘‘The application was made in open Court and a full report of the proceedings was published in the local press. A report containing the recommendation of the Warden was also filed in the Warden’s Office and any interested party may, upon application, be allowed to peruse the same.” HOUSING ATRUNANGA. Replying to Mr. 11. E. Holland, the Minister of Mines stated that when the construction of the Seven-Mile railway is completed there will be retained sufficient housing accommodation for miners and their faihilies. Inquiries are, however, being made into the matter with a view of determining more definitely whether or not it will be necessary to erect additional dwellings to accommodate the whole of the miners when the new James Colliery is in operation. GOLD MINERS’ LOSSES.

The Minister of Mines states, in reply to Mr. Seddon, that so far as he can ascertain no country in the British Empire has passed legislation to compensate gold producers for any loss sustained in consequence of an embargo prohibiting the export of gold. If any compensation is to be given to gom producers then it would inevitably follow that other producers would demand to be treated similarly in respect of any losses they may sustain in consequence of embargoes prohibiting from time to time the exportation from New Zealand of their commodity, such as leather, for instance.