WEST COAST NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 53

WEST COAST NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent. ) GREYMOUTH. August 11. A new timber export company is at present being formed in Greymouth. The new organisation will control the output of the principal mills in the Westland district; possibly it will have a trading agreement with all the millers in the South Island. Overtures with the trade in Southland to this end are, it is understood, now in progress. “ There is no unemployment in the Grey district,” declared the local labour agent (Mr H. J. Torbit) to-day. In support of th’s assertion he stated that there was an unlimited and unsatisfied demand by sawmillers for labour, while he could place 20 men on the Otira tunnel works, where the wages varied from 10s 5d to 13s 6d per day. A rather remarkable fact was remarked upon. Since August 2 privilege railway tickets had been issued to 14 men to enable them to accept- employment at the tunnel, but of these only two had availed themselves of the concession. There were thus 12 men who had not accepted t':e proffered employment. The Westland Education Board and the Westland County Council have agreed to en'orce the suggestion made h v the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce that a clause be inserted in all contracts providing for tlio use of only material of British manufacture. The newlv appointed members of the Greymouih Harbour Board held their first meeting last night, when Mr Jesse Steer was elee+ed- chairman. It was decided to ask Mr G B. Maxwell to state the fee he would require to prenare a comprehensive report upon the feasibility of the construction of a deep-sea harbour at or in the vicinity of Grey month. Preparations are now well in hand for the holding during October of a monster carnival in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The West Coast labour unions were asked to co-operate in the movement, but one union—that of the State collieries—declined the invitation. Its reason was as follows: “ That until such time as the

victimisation of men of the labour ranks in Greymouth ceases this executive cannot see its way clear to co-operate. - ’ The reply occasioned much adverse criticism by the members of the Carnival Committee.