MOVE TO SAVE WEST COAST GOLD INDUSTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 4

MOVE TO SAVE WEST COAST GOLD INDUSTRY

[SPECIAL TO STAR] WELLINGTON, This Day.

No concrete reply was given by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Nash, to a deputation representing the goldmining industry of the West Coast which waited on him in Parliament Buildings this morning. The deputation was closed to the press, but the leader, Mr J. Laing, secretary of the Dredge Workers’ Union, said afterwards that little progress was made. Mr Nash, he added, had given a promise that the industry’s claims would be given the fullest consideration.

“The problem is a very difficult one and there will be no easy solution,” said Mr Laing. The matters under consideration were mainly those problems brought about by the change in the rate of exchange which had adversely affected the goldmining industry. The deputation spent nearly an hour with Mr Nash and covered a large range of subjects.

The provision of work for the men who would be unemployed if gold mines and gold dredges closed and the housing of those men, most of whom are married, were two of the vital subjects discussed. Accompanying Mr Laing were Messrs J. Meikle, president of the Dredge Workers’ Union, Mr E. Elgin secretary of the Waiuta branch of the Goldmine Workers’ Union, and Mr D. P. Rodden, an executive member of the union.

Four Ministers other than Mr Nash were present: the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nqrdmeyer, the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr Skinner, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry. Also in attendance were Mr C. H. Benney, Under-secretary of Mines, and Mr B. C. Ashwin Secretary of the Treasury. This afternoon Messrs A. McLuskie and H. M. Clark of the Placer Mines Federation, will wait on the Minister.