MINE IN DIFFICULTIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 10

MINE IN DIFFICULTIES

LACK OF ORDERS AT WARO REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT Suggestions as to tho means whereby the Waro co-operative colliery at Hikurangi might be kept in operation were made to various branches of the Government by a deputation which visited Wellington on Thursday. The deputation comprised representatives of tho Waro Collieries, the Borough of Whangarei, the Whangarei County Council, Hikurangi Town Board, Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company, Limited, and the Hikurangi Coal Company, who were accompanied by Messrs. A. J. Murdoch and H. M. Rushworth, M.P.'s. Among those who returned to Auckland yesterday was Mr. Murdoch, who said that the deputation had conferred with the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes; Minister of Mines, Hon. C. E. Macmillan; the chairman of the Railways Board, Mr. H. H. Sterling; and the deputy-chairman of tho Unemployment Board, Mr. J. S. Jessep, and had represented the desperate positiqn that had arisen through the orders for coal having dropped 60 per cent. It was proposed that the various Government _ departments should assist by placing their orders for coal with the Waro and Hikurangi mines and that there should be one pumping system in operation for the two mines, thus reducing the running costs. It was pointed out that should the Waro mine be compelled to cease operations the Hikurangi mine would not be able to cope with the water and this property would also close down. In each case the representations were sympathetically received and it. was stated that investigations would bo made to see if means of assisting the mining community could be devised.