STATE COAL MINES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17030, 15 August 1929, Page 3

STATE COAL MINES

BOLDER POLICY URGED DISCUSSION IN HOUSE (Per Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, last night. When the report on the year’s working of the State coal mines was presented in the House to-day Sir. L. J. Howard (L.) said it seemed to him ,thfit the Government might adopt a bolder policy in connection with State mines. There seemed to be an understanding that State mines should not be worked in such a way as to enable coal to be supplied more cheaply than by private mine owners. He referred to the success in Bulgaria of the operation of mines by the workers themselves, and advocated a similar policy in New Zealand. He congratulated all connected with the State mines in New Zealand on the success of the year's operations. Mr. H, L. Holland stated that money had been lost at the State mines through want of trade, and this was largely due to lack of railway trucks and disorganisation of shipping scrvices- Reference had been made in the report to the loss of time owing to disputes, but this was, small compared with the loss of time due to the causes he had stated.

Sir Joseph Ward said investigations would be made into .the point raised by Mr. Holland. The Government had authorised the making of a number of railway trucks in addition to those usually provided annually, and anything reasonable would be done to prevent delay at the mines owing to lack of trucks. It was impossible, however, for any Government to have a

sufficient supply of trucks lying idle a large part of the year so that it would be in a position to meet exorbitant calls on its resources at short notice, Mr. J. O’Brien said he considered the substantial profit made by the State mines was a complete answer to those w r ho in the first place had opposed the proposal for the State’s ownership of coal mines. The Hon. W. A. Veiteli said he would consider a suggestion by Mr. O ’Brien that an endeavor should bo made to store coal in thq slack season, when there was little demand for it. He did not think New Zealand had yet arrived at the stage when the management of the mines would be given to the workers, but he would be prepared to consider a return to tlio cooperative system. Another matter that would be considered was the provision of new plant, and the problem of carbonisation was being given attention.