THE STATE COAL MINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12929, 27 July 1905, Page 6

THE STATE COAL MINE.

STARTED TO HELP THE UNEM- , PLOYED. :':" SEVERE CRITICISM PROM A GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER, PREMIER'S THREAT TO " CUT THE PAINTER." [by telegraph.—special correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr. R. McKenzie, a prominent Government supporter, put the following question to the Minister for Mines:—"Will the Minister appoint a commission to investigate the following alleged grievances in connection with the management of the Seddon State colliery : —(1) Is the manager or agent for the sale of coal from the. State mines the owner, or principal owner, of the township of Dunolly, adjoining the Point Elizabeth State coal mine; (2) is the consulting engineer for the State coal mines also managing director, or a director, of the Tanpiri or any other coal company; (3) the reason why the coal from this mine is not being put upon the market, when the whole colony is clamouring for coal, and enormous quantities are imported, while this mine, which contains the very best quality of steam and household coal, is only working one or two days a week; (4) the reason why this mine, which is now capable of producing 400 tons of coal per day, is supposed not to be paying; (5) the reason why the coal screens were taken out of the bins at Seddonville, and sent to the Point Elizabeth mine; (6) the reason why the bins are not enlarged sufficiently to provide storage for supplying orders as required; (7) the reason why the haulage rope is not extended ; (8) the reason why the miners are compelled to separate the coal underground, instead of it being screened, as was the case prior to the removal of the screens from Seddonville to the Point Elizabeth mine; (9) to ascertain if, as complained of by the miners, this mine is overburdened by officialdom; ana" (10) to ascertain as to the advisability of separating the management of the Seddonville and Point Elizabeth State coal mines." In a note to the question, Mr. McKenzie adds: "The exceedingly unsatisfactory management of the Seddonville State colliery from its inception lias been,notorious, and a source of serious loss to the locality and the colony. Its latest phase lias found expression in the foregoing 'series of questions, forwarded to me recently by the Miners' Union at Seddonville, together with a letter, in which they state that the mine is capable of producing 400 tons of first-class marketable coal (second to none on the West Coast) daily, and that; whilst the mine is only working -.about two day's a week, they are brought to the verge of want through this lack of employment.' They very reasonably contend that this coal should be placed on the market for, the people of the colony to judge it on its merits, instead of its exploitation being left in the hands of a few indifferent officials.''They further pray that after perusal of the above grievances, I will urge the Government to set up a commission of inquiry, which they consider essential in the best interests, of the mine, the district, and the, colony. ", The grievances referred to have no special reference to the lo'cal management at the mine." • ' ».

MR, McGOWAN'S REPLY

Mr. Mbftowan gave the following reply: —"A Board has been appointed to inquire into the whole question of the sale and disposal of coal from the Seddonville mine, and the various points in the question"; of the hon. member have also been submitted for investigation. The Miners' Union 'has nominated a representative on -the Board, and it ie hoped such information will be obtained by inquiries, both at the mine and at Wellington, as will enable the. output of coal to bo increased in the future."

INQUIRY IN SECRET

Mr. R. McKenzie, speaking; on the question of "Adjournment," subsequently attacked the Minister and the Government for their mismanagement of the Seddonville mine. As to the Board of Inquiry, appointed by the Minister, Mr. McKenzie said it was a board of officials,' a "whitewashing" board, to whitewash the mismanagement of the Mines Department. The miners at that mine had been brought to the verge of starvation. In four- weeks they had only worked six days, and it was an insult to their intelligence to set up such a board of officials as the' Ministe- had appointed, especially* a,s that board had only that morning decided that the inquiry would be a secret one, and should be closed .to the press and the public. The Government had 'made up their mind to b'uvk inquiry and to shut the months'of the miners. Later, lie (Mr. McKeiutie) would move for a, Parliamentary committee to,inquire into the. whole matter.

Mr. McGowaii, in reply, said that Mr. McKenzie was " hoist with his own petard." The Board, he contended, was a fair one, and the president of the Miners' Union was a member of it. He added that there had been some difficulty in working the. mine l , because the seams'of coal were " brushed." Mr. James Allen interjected: "That was known before yon took the mine up." Mr. . McGowaii: That is so. j Mr. Allen: Then why did you touch it? Mr. McOowan: It was taken up mainly in order to give employment to a large number of men who were out of work in the district. Mr. Allen (surprised): What? Mr. McGowan: It was taken up.Largely to give employment to the men there. Mr. McGowan said he had recommended the Board of Inquiry to have both the public and the press'there. Mr. McKenzie quoted the resolution passed by the. Board that morning, .to exclude the press. It was about the first thing they did. In the circumstances, of course, the representative of the Miners'* Union could not remain, and so he withdrew. Mr. McGowan said he did not know anything about the resolution. " ' • -4 Mr. McKenzie : s No, probably not, but I do. Speaking later to a personal explanation, Mr. McKenzie said the Minister for Mines had never realised the difference between himself in his private capacity and in his public capacity. The Minister had put every obstacle in the way of these men; in fact, he had been a curse to the miners in the district. The Speaker called upon Mr. McKenzie to withdraw that remark. Mr. McKenzie agreed to do so. Mr. James Allen said it was amusing interesting, and instructive, to hear such a discussion between a member of the Ministry and one of their staunchest followers. He commented on .the strange admission made by the Minister, that the State mine, had been started not; so much to reduce the price of coal, not so much to help the. coal mining industry, but to find work for mm who were out of work in the district. Mr. McGowan interjected that he did not say that. \ Hon. Members: Yes, you did. -Mr. McGowan said what he had said was that the mine was started partly with that object. , J Hon. Members: No, no; you said "mainly." Mr. Allen said it was an extraordinary thing that the Government should have bought a mine for such a purpose. Mr. McKenzie: They didn't buy itthey collared it. ' .' STATE INDUSTRIES THAT PAIL. Mr. Allan: They took it over for a debt which is much the same thing as buying it, and it seems as if there is another State industry that is coming to grief I hope that will not be the case, but if so, it will not be the, only one I know'of One State industry that has already come to grief is the lime-kilns in the Waihemo district. The Government lost money over that. * Mr. McGuwaus- No.: •' ' ' ■ ' ;\

Mr. Allen: There can be no doubt about it. I don't know how much, because the Minister will not give us a statement, but, what with the railway and the bridge over the Shag River to connect with the main line, they must have lost. Every penny of that money Is gone. I only hope the Seddonville coal mine will not be the same. THE PREMIER'S' THREAT. The Premier, in referring to the criticisms upon the management of the mine, said that if there was much more of it the Government would cut the painter, arid then the result would not be satisfactory to those who had forced it upon the Government. Ml". J. Allen: Forced what? Mr. Seddon: The State coal mine. Mr. Allen: Was it forced upon the Government? * ,'::"/-, Mr. Seddon: Yes, public opinion forced it. They would, he said, accomplish the object originally intended, viz., the securing of cheap coal; but until recently they had not been in a position to supply the coal. In the course of a little time they would have in each of the principal centres coal depots where the working man who wanted his hundredweight of coal would be able to get it. Mr. Massey said he was astonished at the statement made by the Minister for Mines, to the effect that the State mine had been established for the purpose of finding employment for the men in the district. The Premier, in speaking on the second reading of, the Bill, had said that it was necessary for the State to have a coal mine of its own, in order to supply the railways and public buildings, and that if there was any surplus, it could be placed upon the market. The men at the mine, he was informed, had only been employed for an average of two days a week for a number of weeks. Judging from a letter which he had received from the secretary of the Miners' Union, the men had a genuine grievance. He was disappointed that it was not intended to give the miners an opportunity' of giving evidence before the Board of Inquiry, and that it was proposed that the press should be excluded. The inquiry, he' considered, should be open to the press, and the miners should have every opportunity of being heard. ■. ' / » Mr. R. McKenzie: I am going to move for a Parliamentary committee to inquire into the matter. Mr. Massey: I hope you will; I Will support you in that. _ Mr. Seddon (laughing):' Are you going in for a coalition? ~-, Mr. Hogg, referring to the subject, said the trouble in connection with the sale of coal from the State mine was that the Government would not, as he was informed, enter into competition with the ordinary dealers. Mr. R. McKenzie: They may enter into a compact 'with them. Mr. Hogg : That is more likely. Mr. Barker said that there should' be depots for the sale of the State coal in every centre in the colonv. ''

Mr. R. McKenzie: , There should be proper management; that is what is wanted. Mr. McKenzie subsequently gave notice to move, " That a committee'be appointed, consisting of ten members, to investigate the alleged grievances in connection with the management of the colliery such committee to consist of Messrs. Barber, Colvin, Ell, Fisher, Herdman, Herries Massey, McGowan, Millar, and the mover "