PUBLIC MEETING

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1930, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING

CROWDED AT WESTPORT. (Per Press Association). WESTPORT, September 5. . The eoul mining crisis lias created tense feeling in mining community. This wu i evident this evening when the Town Hall iu Westport was unable to accommodate the large gatliei:-' ing that assembled for a public meet-' ing. convened for the purpose of discussing the crisis. Mr Harkness, Mayor, presided. Numerous speeims we-e made calling attention to the unemployment, caused at the mines by the Government’s action in reducing the order-, for/ coal for railways and in allowing subsidise I New South Wales coal to come into the country to compete with New Zealand coal. 1 Following on a. resolution being 'carried Messrs J. H. Enright (Progress League), G. Flavell (Managing 'Director of We'.tport Coal Coy). .Russelll (Secretary Stockton Miners’ Union) and E. Lock (of the Millerton Mineils’ Union) were .appointed a deputation to proceed to Wellington and interview the acting Prime Mm-

Tlv’ resolution. moved by Mr En, right, and carried by the meeting unanimously, was as follows:—That this representative public meeting of lhe coal owner’; miners and the g.er. era! public of the Buller district wishes to dr;iw the urgent attention ~f || St . Government to the importance Lf continuing the use of New Zealand coals on the railways, and throughout 'new employed in this cognate ■ placing an embargo on imported coal, or of levying a dnty equal, at least, to the subsidy being received by the j Australian exporters fitom t.he’ir Governmenl. Unle l> this is decided upon, an important industry will be crippled, and large numbers of men now employed in their and cognate industries be thrown on an atready-ovcr-crowded labour; market. In vioW of the largo revenue derived by the 'Government for milage, royalties, and port charges', thit meeting is convinced that it is in the interests of the Dominion to use New Zealand coal exclusively, and that, as far as the Government is concerned, the revenue from the above-mentioned ch urges more than offsets any saving that there might bo to them by us-ng Australian coal. Thi.i meeting also urges that :t conference be culled of all of the paK'ies connected with the business aforementioned —coal owners,

miners, shipping and other interests with a view of placing the infu tryon a- better/ basis.”