MINISTER AT REEFTON

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1935, Page 2

MINISTER AT REEFTON

VARIOUS REQUESTS.

(Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, Alay 10.

lion. S. G. Smith, Minister of Education and Employment, received deputations at the Reefton Council Chambers. There were present: Messrs K. J. Holyoake (Member for the Uis-tric-t), P. C. Webb (Member for Buller), W. Bromley (Vice-Chairman of (he Unemployment Board), E. J. Scoble (Inspector of Mines), T Smith (Public Works Engineer), J. B. Auld (County Chairman). Crs. Clayton, Watson and Archer, Messrs T. Kearns and F. O’Flaherty (overseers under the subsidised miners’ prospecting scheme), and T. L. Floyd and Baumgart (Bureau officers), and the County Clerk (Mr W. B. Auld).

Mr .1 B. Auld said the first business was with the Mining Executive. Prospecting was going on pretty well. It had now developed into a big business. Mr Baumgart said Ihe average earnings over six months was Gdwts 6grs, which was over £2. per month. There were 15 men not getting anything at all. They were on full time. Mr Scoble said if it was possible to fix the wages of men driving, it would be possible for him to inspect the work. Mr Campbell was working on his own at Kirwan’s Reward and was endeavouring to find the solid reef. Mr Bromley said they had three parties working on driving and sinking in the Grey district, and he thought they would have to make a distinction between men working on a community spirit and those working for themselves.

The Minister suggested the Executive deal with the matter from their own viewpoint. They would go -into the matter of appointing mining inspectors. They had already appointed several.-

Mr Baumgart said the prospectors .were getting all the machinery required.

Air Archer referred to the necessity of a plan of the mining district. This would be of assistance to all prospecting, ami save the prospecting of ground already prospected.

Air Bromlev asked if the supervisors were taking careful note of men who were not producing. If not, the supervisors should inspect the workings and see whether they were worth continuing.

Air Auld said the men had been .weeded out. It was a thankless job. Air W. B. Auld referred to an application for a bridge at Blackwater. Their Engineer had been instructed to report on this work. Air Bromley said they had decided to put men prospecting on to the work of making a track to the bridge site, and the men there could also

provide the labour for building the bridge. Air Clayton said the bridge would not cost a great deal. The 'County Engineer said the bridge would cost abput £36. The Minister said they could give the labour if the County found the material. The Chairman said the Council would deal with this matter. Air Clayton considered that £3 per week was not enough for expert supervisors. They would get better results if this .were increased. The Alinister asid they had gone into the matter, and they hud raised the salary 10s per week. Air Bromley said they were securing mining engineers, several of whom had been appointed. This was relieving the supervisors. No supervisor should refuse a good job elsewhere. 'l’lie bureau officers’ salary was to be raised from next week In -reference to Bannan’s application, Air Scoble said the assays from this claim varied considerably. Dr. W. A. Conlon asked for consideration for a road to the colliery at Burke’s Creek. The cost would be about £9OO. The Council was prepared to assist to the extent of £lBO, and ho iwas prepared to give £370. If Ibis road wen* completed, the output, which was 1200 tons per annum and the Government royalty of 6d per ton, would, he considered, repay the outlay. He would pay for the upl|mp of the road. The Alinister said he would confer with the Alinister of Public Works when in Wellington, and would send a reply. e Air 11. F. Sutton, representing the prospectors, asked if it were possible for prospectors in winter to get an issue of gumboots, and in exchange for blankets to get oilskins. Air Hamill endorsed Air Sutton’s remarks.

The Alinister said that if application were made, a prospector could get gumboots in place of leather boots.

Air Bromley said he would ascertain what stocks of goods were in hand, and preference would be given to those who had been on relief work for 13 weeks.

The County Chairman endorsed the prospectors’ request for oilcoats. The Alinister said he was prepared t<i help them.

Air P. C. Webb, AI.P., referred to the closing of the Big River School. The school was to be closed the next day as the company required the building now used as a school. There were 10 children there, and a correspondence school was suggested, which was not adequate for children. Ho suggested that the building once used at Tiroroa for teacher and children should be acquired and transported.

Air T. 11. Lee stated that correspondence was started on December 15. The company now was to resume the boarding house for their employees. There were only’ four of the company’s children at the school. the others being the children of non-cm-ployees.

Air Smith asked to hear the Nelson Education Board’s views.

Hon. Air Mclntyre the Board did not feel justified in asking the Department to establish a school there. Air Thornton endorsed Air Mclntyre’s statements.

Air Smith said he had the power to override the Education Board’s decision, but- in this case he uvas not going to do so. He suggested Mr Alclntyre have another look at the position. He was not satisfied to allow ten children to go without, education.

Air Lee said the company would hold over their request for the evacuation of the building for a month to see if the Education Board could arrange for other accommodation for the children.

Tn rcrlv to Air Auld, Air T. Smith, Public Works Department, said the work on Lewis Pass Road could be better done in summer. Air Archer contended that the rock work could be more profitably done during the present weather.

The County’ Chairman .stated culverts on Afaruia Road from Spring’s Junction to the county boundary were all collapsed. The repair work should be done by the Department. Had it

been done properly in the first place They (would not have required renewing. Re the declaration of Spring’s Junction to county boundary road as a Secondary Highway, the Alinister said that this wa s coming up for consideration by the Alain Highways Board. The matter of 'he road leading along the west bank of Afaruia River to Gibbs’, was in the same position. Referring to the Capleston-Cronadun road, the County Chairman said this road was being used for the conveyance of coal. They asked for a grant of £lOO to assist them. The County was getting nothing from the petrol tax. Regarding the main highway through the County. they paid the Board £2OO per year, and now the Board was asking double the amount. This was very unjust esneciallv ns most of the traffic was from outside the district. The length <•!' the road bus 40 miles.

The Minister said he would put the matter to the Public Works DepartMr Archer “said that the best way to commemorate His Majesty's Jubilee was to acquire a piece of ground to be used a§ a park. They had some land in view on which there were some unsightly buildings. These could be removed. They intended, if the assistance asked for (£46o’) was granted by the Government, to allow Reefton Women’s Institute to erect a restroom upon thi s land. The Minister said he (would be glad to confer with Ministers in Wellington on the matters brought before hinu He was unable to promise anything at the moment, but would the best he could for them.. The County Chairman thanked the Minister for the courteous hearing he had given, and hoped some tangible result would accrue. Tim gathering then dispersed, and the Ministerial party left a L-w minutes later for Westport,