WEST COAST NEEDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 6

WEST COAST NEEDS.

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER. VALUABLE MINING PROPERTY. Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, March 23. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister for Mines, arrived from Westport. He received deputations urging that the Elmer Lane railway yards be proceeded with; that the Highways Board maintain certain borough roads: that the flour duty be removed; and that advances to settlers be speeded up. Mr Anderson "promised to urge the consideration of a loan to applicants with large families. The Minister visited the Dobson mine this afternoon, and viewed a coal seam there which is over 14ft thick. He congratulated the company on the long period of production ahead of it. He believed it to be a very valuable property, and urged the company to use the most up-to-date methods and to house its employees in the best possible way, which would pay them ultimately. FINE COAL SEAM. Mr R. Bell, a director of the company, asked if the Government would assist in a housing scheme, and the Minister replied that it was the company’s job. Mr Bell urged the use of New Zealand coal on the railways, and the Minister replied that probably the inquiry board would result in a larger use of New Zealand coal, especially for the goods traffic. ] Mr Bell intimated that his company had ordered up-to-date machinery, j which was soon to arrive, and intended giving its employees the best possible conditions. The dip drive now piercing the seam was down over 1100 ft, and : another drive was being put in to facilit j tate ventilation. The seam to-day pre- j sented very convincing evidence of a magnificent deposit, as the 400 acres j had proved this already out, of 2000 ] held by the company, and the seam ex-1 tends beyond this area across the river to the right bank. It was pointed out that the company has paid off £3OOO owing by the old company. The Minister proceeds to Runanga to meet the Stale Miners’ Uhion, wlio resumed work to-day, and then goes south to Westland.