MINISTERIAL VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT

NEW STRONGMAN COLLIERY. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. The Minister of Mines (Mr. P. C, Webb) and the Minister of Public Works (Mr. R. Semple) had a busy day in the Grey district yesterday, attending three public, functions during the day and receiving a number of deputations last evening. The principal function was the oflicial opening of the new Strongman colliery, at Rapahoe, by the Minister of Mines, followed by a luncheon at Runanga and later, the official opening of the new mines Rescue Station at, Dobson.

There was an attendance of several hundred, including representatives of the coal mining industry, local authorities and citizens from all parts of the. district at Rapahoe, for the opening of the new Strongman colliery, which took place at the binns On the- platform with the two Ministers were Messrs J. O’Brien, M.P., A. Tyndall ( Under-Secretary for Mines and Housing), C. J. Strongman (Superintendent of State Coal Mines) and the Mayor of Runanga (Mr. R. MeTaggait). Among apologies received were those from Messrs I. James (former Superintendent of State Mines), C. C. Davis (President of the Coal Owners’ Association) and A. McLagan (Secretary of the United Mine Workers).

Mi-. McTaggart said that it gave him great pleasure to welcome the Ministers and to be present at the opening of the new area of the State coal mines. For some time the Minister of Mines and his officers had been most concerned to find sufficient coal to, place on the market, and to-day that was realised by the- opening of cue of the finest seams- on the West Coast, if not in New Zealand. The Minister of Mines, he. knew, was proud to be present at the opening of the new mine, and associated with him were Messrs Semple and O’Brien, and also Messrs Strongman and Tyndall, who had played a prominent part in the development of the seam. He knew that the officials would work harmoniously to minimise accidents and at the same time to give a decent standard of living to those engaged in the industry.

After relating a number of humorous anecdotes in connection with his early association with the mining industry and his colleagues.,, Mr. O'Brien said that, in the old days, they were looked upon as industrial enemies and they never realised that, with the passing of the years, they would be back at the opening of a new mine. Quite a lot of the Labour movement had been associated with the Runanga district, and he could assure his listeners that it gave him and his colleagues all the thrills a man could have to be back among the fellows with whom they had been associated 30 years ago. MR. SEMPLE LOOKS BACK. Mr. Semple said that he was pleased tc: be back in what he believed to be the cradle of the Labour movement and recalled his early associations with Runanga, from the time when he drove the first heading in the New Point E. mine, and when he put up the notice calling the first meeting of the State Miners’ Union, of which he was the first president. He also reviewed the early beginnings of the Labour movement in Runanga, and his experiences at that time. After referring to Labour’s work and difficulties in “bringing the country out of a. state of stagnation into a state of comfort and security,” Mr.

Semple said that he was pleased to be with those who had been associated with him when the paths were thorny and the pitfalls many. He paid tributes to the work of Messrs Strongman and Tyndall, in connection with the new mine and also to the courage of the miner who, he said, was a man worth while and. in conclusion, said that he trusted that the industry would continue to take an active part in the years that were ahead. Mr. Strongman said that while the new mine was called the “Strongman Colliery,” it was really the product of the whole staff of the State Mines Department, specially mentioning Messrs F. Cook (chief electrician), H. Hutchinson (draughtsman) and A. Hilderbrand (in charge of the construction of the new binns). There had been quite a lot of the staff who had put their backs into the work, and they had not asked the Minister for a 40hour week, because they knew he could not .give it to them.

MR. WEBB’S SPEECH

Mr. Webb said that it was really a pleasure to be present, not so much merely to open the binns. but for the most delightful inspiration he got to meet so many of the older men and women whose work was expressed in the development of the field. Referring to many of those who had played a big part in the industry, he said that if that spirit prevailed throughout New Zealand, no power on earth couldi stop the progress of the Labour Government. They were calling it the Strongman mine because, in Mr.) Strongman, they felt that they had one of the outstanding mining men in

New Zealand to-day. Mis' life had been spent in and around the mines, and it was only fitting that they should honour him. The field that they were opening, that day was estimated to contain over five million tons of coal and they expected it to last about 50.

years. The cost of the mine was about £IS2.OL)o. one and a-half miles of tunnels and two and a-half miles of rope road having to be constructed. 'l’he present production was 300 tons a day. and they were aiming at S'.M'i tuns a day. The bintrs. which cu-f | £25.000. were undoubtedly the. most' modern in Australasia, and he doubt-) cd whether anything in the world ex-’ celled them. In this Held, t hey were I hoping to bring mining up to the best; that the world could give. The most

important feature of all happened to be the men underground, who were risking life, limb and health, and as long as the Labour Party, was in power and he was in charge of the Mines Department, he would never forget the'service they were giving to New Zealand. No body of men had given such service and none were so unappreciated. He was looking forward to the time when their conditions would be much improved on what they were to-day, but. to-day, the income of the State miners was up 75 per cent, on what it was when the Labour Government came into office — lit was not enough, but it was a wonderful achievement. If wages were to increase they had to have the most economical system of organisation from the binns to the face. He hoped most, sincerely that the toll of life and serious injury would be reduced to the minimum in the new binns and mine and any suggestion coming to him that would mean the preservation of life, would have his utmost sympathy. “I have much pleasure in declaring the mine open and in calling it the Strongman colliery,” concluded Mr. Webb. “I hope the mine will be an inspiration for State enterprise and that everyone associated with it. will live long and enjoy themselves.”

The Minister then shook hands with Mr. Strongman, amid applause. Mr. Tyndall said that he desired to thank the Ministers, on behalf of the Department, for the things they had said about the staff. Mr. Strongman had done a wonderful job, and he (Mr. Tyndall) wished to thank him and his staff. Mr. Webb pressed a button to set the new binns in motion, concluding the ceremony, which was held on the rope road at the entrance to the binns.

LUNCHEON AT RUNANGA. Following the ceremony at Rapahoe, the Ministerial party, members of local bodies and their wives and a large number of other visitors were the guests of the Runanga Branch of the Labour Party at a luncheon in the Miners’ Hall. Runanga, an excellent meal being served by the women’s committee of the Branch. The Mayor (Mr. McTaggart) presided. Apologies received included those from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greymouth (Messrs F. A. Kitchingham and H. Herring, respectively). Mr. Belton (Christchurch Gas Company), and Mr. G. English (President of the State

i Miners’ Union). After the luncheon, ■ a short toast list was honoured, com-, menciug with the loyal toast, proposed by the chairman. j The toast, of “The Ministerial .Party” was proposed by Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., who said that he had been in close contact with them for 130 years and it was thrilling to remember some of the things they did in Runanga together. After recalling

the early meetings of the Socialist party in Runanga, Mr. O’Brien said dial, from those small beginnings they had a Minister of Public Works’ who had more men in his charge, who had done more important jobs and who had built, more public buildihgs than any oilier Minister in the history of New,

; Zealand, while if anyone 25 years ago; ! bad suggested that Paddy Webb would, be Minister of Mines, Minister of) ;Labour and Minister in Charge of Po- : neo. he would have been put down, as a, lunatic. He (Mr. O'Brien) honestly believed that the work done already could be only stepping stones v. hat could be accomplished. Thcv knew that when they challenged the capitalistic system which had existed for hundreds of years they were go-

ing to make enemies. In the last IS months these bad been particularly active. .They bad attacked New Zealand’s monetary system, whispered to take money out of the Post Office bank, and attacked the sterling funds. That was what they had to fight, and he thought that they would get through alright as he was sure that they had the whole of the people of New Zealand behind them. They would challenge those financial institutions one by one as they came to them, and they would win out in the end. To-day, he wanted those present to honour the Ministerial party and show appreciation of what they had done in the district.

Responding, Mr. Webb also referred at length to the early days' in Runanga. Reviewing the changes that had taken place in New Zealand over the past three and a-half years, he' said that the Government was pleased with its legislation and he was confident that they were-. justifying the foundation of better things to come. While Mr. Semple owed a lot to Runanga and the West Coast, the West Coast owed a lot to him and he was paying in full. Never were the roads better and never were wages and conditions better. He knew it was said that unemployed men on No. 13 scheme were not worth 5/- a week, but why? Because they were worked out. He had men on scheme 13 with one leg, but with five children, .and who would say that was wrong? These changes and improvements carried responsibilities and for the workers not to do their part was the one way to strangle the Labour Government. He would give an undertaking that the more the workers 1 produced, the more they would get. The Government would see to it, through its taxation machine and otherwise, that the wealth created was evenly distributed. Whatever might be said, they would never let the miner down, because they realised his service, and he was sure that they would realise their part, and not swing the lead —that was the surest way to wreck the Labour Government.

Mr. Semple, after describing his arrival in Runanga, said that it was true to say that Runanga was the cradle of the Labour movement, and he was always pleased to come back to the place which give him political birth. After reviewing Labour's

achievements, he said that the war had added to their problems and had put before them almost insurmountable difficulties, but they could not dare to falter. The Government would ' play its part and they wanted the (people to play their part. “I want to say here and now that the physically fit man in New Zealand who won’t work is a doubled-dowled imposter and he has got no claim on anybody,” continued Mr. Semple. “I am not going to tolerate for five minutes the spittoon philosopher who

I wants to sit down and kick his heels. The men who built this country never scrounged. Everyone has got to work so that the currency will expand. Wealth comes only from the country’s annual total production and if you reduce that, you automatically reduce 'the people’s income, as money is only •a measure of exchange. The indivi'dual that will not put anything in to I that is a parasitical imposter and 1 .would simply do that to him (hitting his hand on the table). I would 'simply apply the Biblical quotation, ‘lie that will not work will not cat.’ and it will not be long before ho will be wiping the tears out cf bis eyes ami feeling the slack in his stomach!” Mr. Tyndall, on behalf of those present, thanked those responsible for

'arranging the luncheon and particularly the women’s committee for the excellent repast served. Several toasts were omitted, owing to the shortness of the time available.

DOBSON RESCUE STATION.

OPENED BY MR. WEBB.

There was another large gathering at Dobson, for the official opening, by Mr. Webb, of the Grey district mines rescue station, which was open for inspection by the public.. The Mayor of Brunner (Mr. J. Smeaton) said that the building was the consummation of the wishes of Messrs. Semple and Webb, since their earliest connection with the mining industry and it was a great thing to know that there were men in this mad world who were more interested in saving life than destroying it. He congratulated the Minister on the appointment of Mr. Frank Duffy as supervisor of the station. Mr. Duffy, he said, had .spent many years of his life I in training people for such work. In conclusion, Mr. Smeaton extended a ■welcome to Mrs. Semple, members of her family and other visitors.

I Mr. Webb said that this was an oc casion when one looked upon the most modern apparatus for life-saving in the same way as one looked at a battleship or fighting aeroplane—with the hope that it would never be used, lie hoped that the equipment would rust and rot away before' it was used. Such a station had been a dream in miners’ organisations and to-day he could say that there was nothing more advanced in any part of the world than what they had at Dobson. He extended congratulations to Mr. Duffy for his excellent work and to the 40 men in training, stating that

every man that volunteered for the work knew that he was flirting with death, and stressing the danger of inefficient use of the apparatus, owing to its complexity. In all of the coal fields there was an element of risk, even with most modern equipment, ] and the very fact of the establish-1 ment of the station did not take from j them the responsibility of seeing that I the mines were properly worked —the ' station was a. last resource. It was, 1 the work of the Mines Department . and the companies to see (that the mines were as safe as possible and ! worked properly. The least the miners could expect was the best that money- and science could provide for their safety. During the first few

meetings of Cabinet, the proposal for the station was submitted, and one of the most ardent supporters was Mr. Semple. The cost of construction was £3,000, and there was £lOOO worth of the best equipment obtainable .in the world. - The initial . cost was found by the Government and it was being financed by a levy of one penny per ton on the coal produced from the various mines, subsequently reduced, owing to the increased production of coal, to three-farthings. When it was decided to build the station, it was just a starting point to train men, and Mr. Duffy had done excellent work, with the co-operation of the miners and the employers. It was hoped, in the near future, to have a similar station in the Waikato and gradually to have every mining field equipped. It was his most sincere

wish that they would never have a disaster, but if there should be, all would realise that the Mines Department, supported by the Labour Government, had done everything possible. After paying his respects to the Mines Inspectors, mine managers, trainees and all who had been associated with the project, Mr. Webb declared the station officially opened and remarked that it was just part of their policy to save life wherever it,was possible and that it was just one of the milestones in mining they intended to push on. Mr. O’Brien recalled the early talk of rescue stations 30 years ago. Mr. Webb had said that the cost of the station was £3OOO and it was cheap enough to put a rescue station everywhere coal was produced because one could not eliminate accidents when men went underground. As soon as Mr. Webb became Minister of Mines he wanted to make the mines as safe as possible, and he was still going on with it.

Mr. Semple said that he wished to join with previous speakers in adding his congratulations to Mr. Webb and the Mines Department in displaying courage enough to build such an institution. He knew that it was a valuable institution to this country and he also knew that Messr.s Webb and O’Brien and the West Coast miners would not rest until they- were put up all over the country. Arrangements were now being made to erect one in Huntly. In conclusion, Mr. Semple congratulated Messrs. Webb and Tyndall and the Supervisor on the station and joined in hoping that it would never be used.

Mr. Tyndall expressed thanks to Mr. Smeaton for his remarks and his welcome.

A demonstration of the use of the rescue apparatus, in the gas chamber. which is equipped as a model of the interior of a mine, was then given by an efficient team of Dobson trainees, under the direction of Mr. Duffy.