OFFERED TO STATE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 16 August 1944, Page 2

OFFERED TO STATE

REASONS FOR PURCHASE OF COALMINES Wellington, This Day. Reply to-day to remarks on coalmining in the Legislative Council by the Hon. T O. Bishop (Wellington), the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. Webb, in a statement said: “Mr Bishop is unable or unwilling to accept my definite statement that seven coalmining areas purchased by the State since the outbreak of war were acquired in the public interest. He knows quite well because of his former position as Chairman of the Coalmines Council that one of these areas had never been worked by its owners and was acquired by the State as an open-cast proposition Two others had been closed down and were purchased and reopened by the State in 1940 and of the seven, the owners of six were desirous of selling and wanted the State to buy their properties. He also knows that in respect of the seventh property— Stockton—over 18 months ago the owners also wanted to sell to the Government. He also knows that other mines have been offered to the State and as public interest would in no way be served, such offers were declined ' Mr Webb asked did Mr Bishop deny that the Government had aequot,, some of the properties only as a last resort when the owners had virtuallyrefused to continue operations and added that Mr Bishop, as Chairman of the Coalmines Council, had advised the Government to acquire Blackball, Wallsend and Dobson collieries.