COAL FROM WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20479, 3 February 1930, Page 12

COAL FROM WAIKATO.

WORK SHORT AT HUNTLY.

GOVERNMENT HELP SOUGHT

[jIV TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT HAMILTON. Saturday.

At Iho Town Hall, Huntly, this morning a meeting was held for the purpose of discussing tho shortage of work in (ho coalmining district round lluntly. Representatives from tho various business places, members of tho 'lown Board and delegates from tho Ronown, Rotowaro, Pukemiro, Glen Massey and tho Northern Coalminers'' District Council, were present. Mr. W. Leo Marlin, M.P., was also present, and Mr. Fi. George (chairman of the Town Board) prcsidod. It was stated that for some weeks the week's work in most of tho mines in tho district has averaged two days, and this, with tho present cost of living, is not sufficient to keep a man with his wife and family in ordinary comfort. For instance, 0110 man was faced with the fact that ho had only £1 17s left, after deducting tho various levies made, at the mine, to keep his wifo and family for a fortnight.

When tho mines arc working slack time dining tho summed months, many men find it. difficult to moot their accounts, and consequently they have to cany tho burden all through tho winter. Many times they cannot pel, things squared up, no matter how desirous they are of doing so. Local business places, (he union representative said, woi'Q no doubt feeling the strain of such circumstances, and. it was felt that the tinio had arrived when the Government should bo approached on the matter. Eighty-three per cent, of Now Zealand coal is being used on tho tailways, and it was urged tlmt the Waikato should get its fair shnro of orders. In reply, Mr. Martin said tho Minister of Railways had given him an assurance that New Zealand coal would bo used to the fullest extent, and had advocated that a conference should bo arranged between representatives of the Government, tho coalowners, tho different miners unions, and local business men, to seo if a more satisfactory solution, or remedy, could bo found. After various suggestions had been discussed, it was moved and carried, "That a request bo forwarded to tho Government urging it to increase tho orders for Waikato coal, and failing that, that relief works bo instituted to relieve the miners affected by the present shortago of work."