COAL INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24930, 27 June 1944, Page 7

COAL INDUSTRY

ASSISTANCE TO MINEES THE STATE AND COMPANIES No. IX. Good pay and easier working conditions have done much to improve the lot of the coalminer, but generally speaking these in themselves are insufficient compensation for the comparative hardships which those in many mining communities have to undergo. It is probably a recognition of this fact that has inspired tho present Government and earlier administrations, in co-opera-tion with the companies, to spend much money on providing better housing and social amenities. How unattractive living conditions can be in some of these communities cannot bo realised by anyone whose sole association with a minim- township has been a rapid passage through the modern borough of Huntly by train or motor. The sites of some of the settlements on tho West Coast are appallingly desolate and depressing. Tho climate is wet, with cold winds and fogs alternating. Often the ground is unfruitful and is covered with scrub, bracken or tussock. Unattractive Township Typical of this type of settlement is Denniston, north of Westport. The township perches upon a plateau between ISOO and 2000 feet above the Tasman Sea, which it overlooks. For much of the time it is enshrouded in mist and the rainfall is heavy. The houses are built on rocky foundations. There are no gardens, for"nothing other than wiry grass and shrub will flourish there. In a straight line the settlement is barely two miles from tho railway connecting with Westport, but this distance must be accomplished by seven miles of steep and winding road. Difficulty of access is a factor pushing up costs of living in the township. Housing conditions in mining communities generally were formerly at a poor, if not primitive level. Many of these wood and iron shacks still remain, but they are gradually being replaced by structures as modern and as convenient as those being built in the cities. As long ago as 1925 the State made it obligatory for colliery owners to provide adequate accommodation for their workmen, and tinder a more recent plan special advances may be made available to mine owners to assist them in providing housing. Houses to Purchase Vigorous steps have been taken by the present Government to provide houses at State-owned or controlled mines. This policy, which is administered by the Alines Department, differs in one importsut respect from the Government's general housing policy in that the houses may be purchased by the tenants. Although recent figures are not available, five-roomed houses were being built two or three years ago at £'lllo and £I2OO. and four-roomed cottages were being put up for about i £IOOO. Payments are spread over 30 years and range from £1 7s a week down to £1 2s 6d. | As another means ol raising the living conditions of the miner the Government and private companies have spent much money in providing a wide variety of social amenities. Public halls, sports areas, libraries, swimming baths, bowling and croquet greens and tennis courts have been constructed in many centres and. in general, have been widely used. In isolated cases, however, a spirit of apathy has prevailed and some of the amenities have fallen into disrepair or have been wantonly damaged. It is only fair to say that the miners themselves are the first to criticise such action by their colleagues A Co-operative Society Notable efforts have been made by the miners in some districts to help themselves. A case in point is Runanga. near Greymouth, the home of workers employed in the Liverpool and Strongman mines Here the wealthy State Miners' Union has erected a large building, incorporating a modern picture theatre and meeting-room. A longestablished and progressive co-operative society also operates in the town, the business incorporating grocery, hardware, drapery, furnishing, footwear, bakery and carting departments. Membership totals about 635. the capital exceeds £17.000 and sales in 1943 amounted to £69.509. Dividends at the rate of about £7OOO annually are shared by members. Both the Miners' Union and the co-operative society have combined at various times to improve the town's amenities. (Concluded.) DEATH IN AUCKLAND FORMER POLICE OFFICER A former superintendent of police in Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch and Dunedin, Mr. D. C. Fraser, died on Sunday at his home in Mount Boskill. Mr. Fraser retired from the police force early in 1939 after having been superintendent in charge of the Auckland police district for about si:-: months.

Mr. Fraser was a son of .Mr. Charles Fraser, at one time editor of the Otago Witness, and joined the police force in 1897. He was first stationed in Auckland, where lie remained until 1.915 with the exception of a period at Otorohxinga. Jn 1915 he went to Napier and in 1917 was placed in charge of the Thames sub-district. As a seniorsergeant lie was transferred to Palrner,ston North in 1919, and in 1924 he was appointed sub-inspector in Dunedin. In the following year he went to Napier as inspector. In the next nine years Mr. Fraser served successively at Greymouth, New Plymouth and Hamilton, and in 1931 lie was appointed superintendent and placed in charge of the Dunedin district. lie came to Auckland after six months in Christchurch and about tuo years in Wellington. Mr. Eraser is survived by his wife and two sons. CRANE-DRIVERS' DISPUTE A tribunal, presided over by Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M., will sit this morning to consider the Auckland Harbour Board crane-drivers' dispute, which arose last week when the men refused to operate grabs discharging bulk cargo unless hatchmen were employed to direct them. The members of the tribunal are Mr. D. Holderness, en-gineer-superintendent of the Harbour Board, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, Auckland waterfront controller, Mr. A. R. Thompson, representing the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores' Association, and three representatives of the Auckland Harbour Board Employees' Union, Messrs. J. Hamilton, W. Ashton and G. R. Phillips.