STOCKTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 6

STOCKTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent), ‘Mr J. Bronwlie is still connned to nis home, but is improving slowiy. Mr and Mrs Withers ana daughter returned to Westport on Monday inter ‘ spending the week-end with Mr and Mrs D. Gemmeil. . Mrs Curragn, of Westport, is spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs <-• Steele-. Mrs Prout, of Westport, was a visitor to the township last week. Mrs J.’ Fitzsimmons is about again after her i ecent .illness, Tne roads and drums in the towu’sh.p, are being attended to by tne Countys Council workmen. Tim monthly meeting of the Ngakawau Miners' Union was held m tne Stockton Hall on Sunday. Mr r. Connew presided. Due to the visit of Hon. P. C. Webb, the meeting was a fairly representative one. Anxiety as to the future- of the township qwng to proposed closing of the mine was quite apparent. Mr Webb dealt with the position as between tne Westport-Stockton Coal Company and the Government. There is, up to the moment, notnng of a concrete nature to indicate whether the Stockton mine has any future apart from the supply of coal for the period of the war. Government representatives and representatives of 'the Stockton Company are meeting this week to discuss the position in Christchurch. The results fot this meeting will, iiq doubt, be made available to the- Union officials in due course. A't the Miners’ Union meeting nominations for tne secretaryship ot the Buller Miners’ Central Committee resulted: Mr H. Hayward, of Denniston and Mr I. Tyler, of Ngakawau. Going to the vote Mr Tyller received fortyeight votes and Mr Hayward ten. Mr Tyler is therefore, the official nominee for the pos tion. Mr Adams received 51 votes for the presidency of the Buller Labour Representation Committee, and Mr C. Thomas 13. Mr i A. Ridsdale polled 38 votes for the Secretaryship and Mrs I. Ryan 14. A letter from the Westport Watec-side-rs’ Union regarding the short loading of boats, due to the unsatisfactbry) state of the bar, received the support of the meeting. A letter from the Women’s Institute of Ngakawau and Hector regarding the unsatisfactory delivery of meat to the country districts, suggesting better facilities for the residents, also was strongly supported. It was pointed out during the discussion that meat is only delivered- three days per week and a service of this nature is not conducive to the best interests of those employed in the mines. A. letter from the Labour Party of Ngakawau and Hector regarding the fail-car services to the country areas also received the support of the members present,. and it was decided f place these matters before Mr Webb. Regarding the services of the Westport meat purveyors, Mr Webb thought that, if it was a, question ot getting sufficient petrol to give a more frequent delivery of meat, then that should not prove an unsurmountable barrier, and he would go ’ntorthe matter. Regarding the railcar service to the country district, the Minister pointed out that there is a decided shortage of railway crews and that they were working far too many hours at present. So many railway. employees are with the forces that until additional crews are available. there is no prospect of further services being commenced. A vot.n of thanks 10 Mr Webb was carried by