WEST COAST NEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 11

WEST COAST NEEDS

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER. , HON. 6. J. ANDERSON AT WESTPORT. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, March 20. The Hon. O. J. Anderson, Minister for Mines and Marine, arrived at Westport this evening and received deputations. The chairman and secretary of'the General Labourers’ Union brought up the matter of the Harbour Board workers who are members of the General Labourers’ Union, and said that when the Public Service Commissioner visited Westport in February it was pointed out that an agreement had existed before the Government took over the harbour under which the employees were better off in regard to wages and conditions than they are to-day. The commissioner promised -that the matter would be gbne into, and he believed- in some cases relief would be given but no information had since been received from the commissioner. The Minister promised to have inquiries made. A deputation representing the Buller Progress League waited on the Minister urging the speedy completion of the We&tport-Greymouth coastal road, especially the erection of a bridge over the Fox river. The speakers stressed the scenic and commercial aspects 01. , this road, urged the expaditious construction of the Buller Gorge railway and also better cranage on the wharves at Westport to enable vessels to be loaded at all states of the tide. The Minister promised to present their representations to his colleagues. The Hon. W» H. Mclntyre, M.Sc., brought up various county matters, and Mr J. Bradley, president of the Westport School of Mines made representations regarding the school, particularly stressing the need for an assistant for instruction in subsidiary schools and in the mining township to all of which representations the Minister gave favourable replies. Regarding the harbour Mr Anderson said it was a strategical harbour, and the policy of the Government was to make it as up-to-date as possible. The Under-Secretary fat Marine who was with him would remain at Westport for a fetj. days .to go into the important matters mentioned. The Minister leaves for little Wanganui and Karamea to-morrow, returns to Westport on Sunday and -going on to Reefton the same day. thence to Gre.vmouth, Hokitika and" South Westland.