WEST COAST COALFIELDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 2

WEST COAST COALFIELDS.

AN IMPORTANT REPORT. The Committee appointed by the House to inquire into the conditions under which the West Coast coalfields are worked, reported last Friday. The report is a long one, and states at length the position of the various mines in the Westland, Grey, and Colling wood districts. The effect of the report, however, is contained in the concluding sentences, which are as follow :—l. The improvement of the harbours at Greymouth and vVestport has been undertaken as a colonial work. The revenues from the railways, the rents of the land endowments, and the royalties of the mines, are appropriated to the repayment of the moneys advanced. The development of the coalfields is therefore a matter of public importance. Yet it will be seen by the evidence that the mines now in operation at Greymouth are in the hands of the Grey Valley Coal Company, half owned by the Westport Coal Company, the other half being divided between the former lessee of the Brunner mine and the Union Steamship Company; while at Westport the mines dow in operation belong to the Westport Coal Company. The carrying of coal for these two companies between New Zealand ports is secured .to the Union Steamship Company. Attention is directed to the absence of any proper cheek on the output on which royalty is charged. The Commissioner for the Nelson district appears to have depended on the railway returns for checking those made by the managers of the mines, but the railway returns appear not to have been forwarded for some time past. The Chief Commissioner of Railways reports that “ there is x-eally no check on the output of the mines.” The supervision of mines ha's also been conducted with great laxity. Recommendations by the Inspector, under the Coal Mines Act, as to breaches threatening human life have been ignored by the department. Prudence aud humanity alike require a strict enforcement of the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, and of those clauses in the leases having for their object the prevention of accidents. Summary.—ln brief, the Committee desire to report that by a series of assignments practically the whole of the present workings in the Westland District have been allowed to fall into the hands of two coal companies associated in business, and acting in accord with a steam shipping company. The consequences threatened—if not incurred—by this monopoly would appear likely to be mitigated by a strict enforcement of the output clauses, by extending communications with other portions of the field, and by continuing to improve the harbour-accom-modation at Greymouth and Westport. The recommendations of the Committee may be summarised as follows 5 —(1) That the output clauses of tbe leases should in every instance be rigidly enforced. (2) That, in the intereet of coalminers, as well as to guard against monopoly, the amalgamation of leases should not be permitted unless the public interest is fairly and fully conserved. (3) That an efficient check on the amount of output should be arranged with a view to the royalties being paid on all coal specified as subject to royalty under the several leases. (4) That any mining in the past outside leased areas should be made She subject of payment, and should be restrained, in future. (5) That the clauses of the Coal Mines" Act directed to the prevention of accidents should be strictly enforced, (6) That no further leases should be granted until a form, generally applicable, has been settled by the Law Officers of the Crown, alter reference to the officers of the Geological and Mines Departments, and so as to reserve access to areas lying at the back. (7) That new Harbour Boards be formed by Act so as to give representation to the various interests of the coal districts, while reserving to the Crown a preponderating authority by nomination of members, (8) That the administration of the land endowments of both Westport and Greymouth harbours be withdrawn from the Land Boards aud transferred to, the Harbour Boards when reconstituted. (9) .That th© harbour works and shipping facilities at Greymouth, and Westport should be carried on with much greater despatch than heretofore. (10) That th,e Government, while insisting upon the observance of the terms and conditions of all leases, should give every encouragement to opening up new coal mines, by providing extra shipping facilities and railway accommodation. (11) That the undoubted superiority of the West Coast coamust create a large foreign demand, which can be supplied only by making the harbour acoessibl© to vessels of large carrying capacity and deep draught. When the report was presented a short discussion took place as to what should be done with respect to it. Eventually the Premier agreed to state on Tuesday what course the Government would take in th<i matter.