WILSONS' COLLIERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 11

WILSONS' COLLIERIES.

NEW CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

MORE ORDERS NECESSARY.

MINERS SEEK ASSISTANCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN- CORRESPONDENT.] WHANC,ABEI. Friday. A special meeting of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce was held this evening to meet a deputation from Wilsons' Co-operative Collieries, comprising Messrs. J Scott Davidson, chairman of Directors, and Mr. A Wood, a director and also the union representative on the National Council of Miners.

Mr. Davidson said the present position meant that unless orders for another 400 tons of coal weekly could be obtained or a loan to meet commitments obtained from the Government, the mine would be faced with extinction. At present the only order was for 800 tons weekly from Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Limited. A tremendous amount of new material was required and an account for £B6O for pipes had to be paid. The men had been working and pumping water with exceptional determination to succeed, and were receiving only half pay, representing £3 for a week's work.

The water was coming into the mine at the rate of 40,000 gallons a hour, the estimated quantity to be unwatered being 33,000.000 gallons. The mine could not be sufficiently unwatered to get tne major portion of the coal before Christmas. It would then be able to produce 1800 tons weekly. At present the mine could produce 1200 tons weekly. Effect on Adjoining Mine. If assistance were not forthcoming the miners would be unable to carrj on. This would mean the flooding of the adjoining Hikurangi mine also, and that the township of Hikurangi would cease to exist. The deputation was waiting on the council, as it felt that business people in Whangarei were vitally interested in the matter. Mr. Wood said there were many faults in the seam, while the working conditions were very wet. The mine was m bad condition and required reconditioning before coal could be produced economically. The mine would have to be worked full-time to be carried on. The directors were economising in every possible way. The president ot the chamber, Mr. 1. Mitchell, assured the deputation that the chamber was most sympathetic and realised the importance of the position. He felt the chamber could move in the matter owing to the exceptional circumstances and the need of savins the mining industy in Hikurangi. Mr."J. F. S. Briggs, a member of the chamber, said if both mines became idle it would cost- the Unemployment Board £SOO weekly to keep the men and their families. He considered the Government could give an order for coal to the value of £SOO weekly through the Railway Department and thus save the township. Suggested Loan of £IOOO. Mr. H. W. Crawford, another member, moved the facts be placed before the Minister of Railways and that he be urged to give attention to the placing of orders throughout New Zealand to the extent of 400 to 500 tons weekly during the period of the unwavering of the mine. The suggested orders were not .to affect the present order given bv the Railway Department to the Hikurangi mine. He" also moved that the Unemployment Board be approached to lend Wilsons Co-operative Collieries £IOOO at a reasonable'rate of interest to meet present commitments. Roth motions were carried. It was decided to forward copies of the resolutions to Mr. A. J. Murdoch, member for the district. An emergency committee of the chamber. consisting of Messrs. Mitchell, dent, J. Finlavson. chairman of the Whangarei Harbour Board, C. V. Stringer and C. Crawford, was set up to deal with the matter.