STATE COAL

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1934, Page 7

STATE COAL

REPLY TO UNDER SECRETARY FOR MINES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I note in your edition of the 31st July a reply from the Undersecretary for Alines with a denial of the statement made by our friend in Christchurch, Mr Robson, regarding the lack of Liverpool coal at the State Coal Depot at Christchurch. I may say that Mr Robson is an old identity of Runanga, and as such he had realised the position at the State mine” and compared it with a recent happening with regard to himself; so, 1 take it, he intended to help us by giving us the facts from the factory. I may say also that I thanked Mr Robson for his information, and that I believe him to be correct. Let the denial, however, stand for a while — it will keep. For the time being, we have other things to think of. To me, it seems queer how the Alines Department have taken this sudden interest in the avenues of sales. I must also say that this correspondence is of such a nature that what I say goes for myself only. If the object of the Department is to assist our members, why was the letter forwarded to the Minister for Alines not placed in the hands of the Department; or, if it was, why was action not taken then? It was not because they did not know’ I do not intend to dwell any longer on this matter, as I consider it of no bearing on the real position; but J will see that the Under-Sec ret ary for Alines is informed officially of what is taking place. I have appealed to the public of New Zealand through the columns of the “N.Z. Worker to take an interest in this matter. Now. there is one way which the Alines De partment can assist the State mines, and that is by taking up the protest which the State miners forwarded to the Prime Minister against there being no tax on the crude nil and oversea coals that are now being imported into this country. We would appreciate this.—Thanking you for your valuable space, I am, etc.. W. PENDLEBURY. Runanga.