NEW DISTRICT WORKS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1922, Page 2

NEW DISTRICT WORKS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,* —Nou* ’that Mr O’Brien has been selected to represent this electorate in Parliament it is sincerely hoped he will in that vigorous manner so characteristic of members of the Labour Party, urge upon the Government to draw out a balance sheet of the State Collieries from the inception of work; showing all expenditure, revenue, assets, liabilities, profit and loss u pto date. By the perusal of this statement we would be in a position to see the huge profits made under the careful management 'usually exercised by State officials. The State (which in this Dominion consists almost wholly of the working class), or “some bloated capitalists’’ would then be encouraged to open up the millions of tons of coal said to be in this district. (See geological bulletins). Also, a short history of the Otira Tunnel could be written, showing, when the Government called for tenders to construct the above, it was pointed out by some that there was £IOO,OCO being actually thrown into a contractor’s pocket; it could be shown that in spite of the many bickerings, strikes, threats of same, and deputations to Wellington the work has been brought to a successful end by co-opera-tive labour, thereby saving a huge sum of money. By thus illustrating bow tunnels can be built cheaply it may be possible to start another from Punakaiki under the Paparoa Range joining up with the Reefton Line at Ikamatua. This would bring the people of the latter place as well as Waiuta within easy reach and cheap access to the sea-coast. Besides passing under formation which is geologically similar to the Brunner-Runanga hill it would connect with what is undoubtedly the finest bit of seascape and blow-holery on the New Zealand coast. To the north of this is the well-known harbour of Woe dpecker Bay, while to the loath is the far-famed distiict of Barrytown. Again. Mr O’Brien, as far as I can learn, could easily obtain the services of a man in this district who stands out on his own in the sawmilling and sawdust industry. A precis of the ins and outs of this industry could be recorded showing what enormous profits are made ,and concluding with a list of the numerous saw-i.-chers who have I'.ved and died in this district, - ’ like bloated capitalists by sucking the life-blood from the toilers.’’

This is a habit to which the mosquito is addicted, but being only an insect very little literature on the subject is available compared to that on local timber cutting. It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword. To me ,it seems both these instruments are too feeble for the job, so I wotdd suggest a maddock and a largesized broad axe, with two handles available, one for the left-hand stroke and the other for the right hand.—l am, etc., SARKY. POWER BOARD ELECTIONS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —As f was looking over your paper last night, 1 saw where a correspondent has put in a few remarks on Mr J- Wick’s speech at Stillwater, re the Power Board. Now, Sir, I w’ould like to contradict some of his statements as I was present, as we.ll as several others at his meeting, and I did not hear Mr Wick state, anything about any steam scheme, whether it was economical or otherwise. He came, there as a candidate for the Power Board, but I was just as wise when I came out what his views were on that subject. He did nothing else, Mr. Wick and his colleagues, but ridicule, the present Council and their work, ana I think any fair-minded person would not. had they known, gone there to listen to such talk. I am, etc.—

INTERESTED.