NGAKAWAU NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1922, Page 8

NGAKAWAU NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent.) After a prolonged spell of dry we: ther and the numerous prayers tin went up for some rain to fill the tank the climatic conditions have change' and we are having a touch of the goc old West Coast springtime weathi and the drains about are getting a goo all round flushing. The Westport-Stockton Mine has bee idle for the last two days, owing t some defect in the machinery at tl. power-house. It is reported that the Inspector ( Machinery was here on Saturday, 7t inst., to inquire about the dispute i the tireman. on pay Saturday; and th: he gave his decision in favour of th company, thus again showing that it futile for the workers to try and ei force any reasonable reforms unde the present administration, althoug the present dispute was only to try an retain a condition that has prevaile for years. It also proves that the con panics at present win every time. W must get rid of the Reform Party. Now that the time is drawing nee for the general election, it behove every adult, male and female, to sc that their names are on the roll, an for all workers to see to it that the vote the right way. What are the Ngakawau Labourite ■ doing? Are they preparing for th fray ? Are they merely waiting to th last minute, when it -will be too late or perhaps they want the Reform cai dictate to get in, after all that th sitting member (Mr Holland) has don for them during the late trouble. ] is not enough to pass votes of thank but every voter should see to it th;; j the policy of the Labour Party is ca _rie<l to the forefront of the fight. Th industrial movement is at present rathi dead —strangled by the capitalist! LC.A. Act. Then get the Politic: Movement into action! Capture th reins of power. By so doing, work ov your own emancipation! The Stockton Coal Company ar carrying out extensive developmen works, with the intention of openin up a new section of their lease. The have exposed the outcrop in sever: places, ami have struck a very bar seam of coal. They are also putting i :j new rope road in the mine to No. section, and, when finished, this wi greatly facilitate the output of co< from that section. At the old mine, Straker Bros, ar building a bridge to allow work to b carried on over the Mangatina Creek which bridge is expected to give thi part of the company’s property a ne\ lease, of life. It is reported that the timber is o: order for the carrying out of the en gineer’s water scheme. Some say i will revolutionise the coal transports lion. On Wednesday of last week, a fare well social and dance was tendered t Mrs G. Bansgrove. The event was wel patronised, despite certain opposition Mrs Bansgrove was the recipient of ; well-tilled purse. It is reported that the secretary o the local football club was asked b; letter to call a meeting of footballer with a view to getting their assistant for the above social, on account of M jßansgrove being chairman of the clul for a long period before he left thi district, but the secretary ignored tin request, and took it upon himself t< state the footballers would not do any thing in the matter. Xow, who run; the football club? Is it the member; |or is it the secretary with the assist auce of one or two business persons It is about time this secretary was le know that his duty is to place request: of that description before the member: for their consideration, no matter wha his ou n opinion may be. Otherwise h< may be called upon to answer some very awkward questions. It is reported that Messrs Turnbul and McKay have got the contract tc erect the new hall at Stockton. Thi: prospect has hung fire for some con siderabie time. Is it because the di rectors are expected shortly that this bit of a move has been made? The re |si(lents of Stockton are still waiting ( for t’ne completion of those bath houses so as to relieve the pressure at the boarding houses. Some little time back the union passed a resolution giving the company a short time to put intc force the bath house clause of the Mining Act, but, apparently thej r con sider it only a “scrap of paper!” And they do so with impunity. The Ngakawau Coal Mining Syndicate are still pushing out coal as fast as possible, and if weather lasts, they will want to put a week or two in repairing the roads. What are the County Council going to do about it ? It is getting dangerous to go out after • lark, for fear of falling into one of the many ruts.