PORTRAIT OF MR P. C. WEBB UNVEILED IN BLACKBALL HALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1948, Page 2

PORTRAIT OF MR P. C. WEBB UNVEILED IN BLACKBALL HALL

Described by his successor, Mr A. McLagan, as the greatest Minister of Mines this country has ever known, Mr P. C. Webb was honoured by a gathering of 800 at Blackball on Saturday night, when a large coloured portrait of the former Minister was unveiled in the Blackball Miners’ Hall. Many tributes were paid to Mr Webb’s Efforts, particularly on behalf of mine workers and for the New Zealand Labour Party, of which he was a foundation member. Mr Webb, who is in ill-health, was unable to attend the function, and on his behalf a message was forwarded by Mr G. R. Hunter M.L.C. Association With Industry Addressing the gathering prior to the unveiling ceremony, Mr McLagan, traved Mr Webb’s long association with the coal mining industry and with politics and referred to his early days organising the miners into the Miners’ Federation and finally into the Federation °£ Labour of which he became first president. Mr McLagan also referred to Mr Webb’s stand on the conscription issue during the Great War. It was at this time that Mr Webb came to Blackball topwork in the mine and later in a co-opera-tive mine with Mr G. R. Hunter. Then in 1933, on the death of Mr Holland he won the Buller seat, and held it until ill-health caused his retirement in 1946. Mr Webb as Minister of Mines had raised the standards of wages and living conditions ,for miners to new and unprecedented heights said Mr McLagan. As he had been largely responsible for progressive industrial legislation, and he had done valuable work as Postmaster-General in the same years. “To his efforts as Minister of Mines and Labour are largely attributable the great improve-, m.ents in the position of the New Zealand working-classes,” he said. “His contribution was to the constructive industrial side of the Labour movement rather than to its political side,” he went on, adding that the. legislation which he sponsored emphasised his support for the welfare and safety of the men with whom he once worked. “Almost the whole credit for the improvements in the mining industry, particularly in Blackball, went to Mr Webb, and those who had worked with him ih earlier years,” said Mr McLagan adding that nevertheless the miners had some excellent friends who had fought hard for then? rights and he mentioned the names of the late Mr Holland, Mr James O’Brien, Mr Mark Fagan and Mr H. T. Armstrong.

Other Tributes

Other speakers included the chairman, Mr R. Clark, Miss M. Anderson, M.L.C., Messrs J. 8,. Kent M.P,, P. Blanchfield (president of the Westland L.R.C.), A. Beban, J. McNicol (president of the Blackball Miners’ Union), J. Neilson (president of the Road Miners’ Union) and J. Mulcare. The Black Diamonds Frolics Company entertained with items prior to the ceremony.