GENERAL NEWS GOVERNMENT SEEKING NEW MINES TO BUY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS GOVERNMENT SEEKING NEW MINES TO BUY

“The mines mentioned in the report are only a number of those being considered for purchase,” said the Minister of Mines (Mr. O’Brien) in Wellington this morning, when a Southland report that all the coal mines in the Ohai-Nightcaps district would be owned and operated by the State was referred to hirh. “We are not committed to buy any of them,” the Minister added, “but purchase of any mine now privately owned at a reasonable price is part and parcel of the policy of ultimate nationalisation of all our mines. We are always investigating cei'tain mines with a view to buying them. Actually there is no plan in prospect, such as is suggested by the report, for the immediate wholesale acquisition of the mines listed. They are, however, being considered on their relative merits. By the purchase of whatever mines are available at a ptice economical to the State the actual process of nationalisation is naturally proceeding,” he added. —(?•s■•)

“Squatting.” In a reference to “squatting” in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said he hoped we were not going to have anything like that here. The House might be asked to make provision in some way in relation to empty houses, but certainly we could not run the risk of having people take possession of property.—(P.A.)

Arrest of Seaman. A seaman who was arrested in Mackay, street yesterday afternoon, on a charge of drunkenness, was fined 10/- by Mr. W. P. Hambleton J.P. at a sitting of the Police Court at Greymouth to-day. The defendant did not appear, having been placed on board his vessel which sailed yesterday afternoon. t

Railway Freight. Goods transported from* the West Coast to Canterbury by rail last week totalled only 16.453 tons, this being considerably less than the quantities transported during the corresponding weeks in the previous two years. In the second week of September of last year, 18,469 tons were railed, while 21,069 tons were transported during the corresponding week in the previous year.

Historic Home Destroyed. The well-known home of Mrs. H. Webber, at the northern end of Kapiti Island, was destroyed by fire on Monday night, according to advice received in Wellington this morning. Very little was saved. The house was a single-storey eight-roomed wooden building. It was the repository of many Maori treasures, including some beautiful carvings executed by the late Hona Webber, who was. considered the best carver in the district. — (P.A.) Wellington Burglary. Burglars who entered a gown shop in Lambton quay, Wellington, some time on Monday night stole clothing and a quantity of valuable machinery. Among the articles taken were the heads of four electric sewing machines and an electric cutter and other sewing equipment, all of which are difficult to obtain at the present time There was no money in the shop at the time. It is believed, that the intruders must have been hiding in the building when the shop was closed on the previous night.—(P.A.)

An Unprecedented Meeting. Despite the fact that 16 Magistrates from various parts of New Zealand were in conference in Wellington during the week-end, no Magistrate s Court fixtures were affected by a meeting which is unprecedented in legal history. The Under-Secretary of Justice (Mr. B. L. Dallard) said that the Magistrates put themselves to considerable trouble by sitting throughout Saturday and half of Sunday so that the public would not be. inconvenienced by any delay in Magistrate’s Court business. After the Magistrates had been welcomed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and the Acting Minister of Justice (Mr. Jones), they setled down to a round-table discussion of the Magistrate’s Court Bill, the whole 123 clauses of the measure being closely examined. Mr. Dallard said that there was no statement to be issued as a result of the conference. : Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday. September 22, at Moana, 8 a.m., Paroa, 10 a.m.—Advt.