TANGARAKAU COAL MEASURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1927, Page 13

TANGARAKAU COAL MEASURES.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—I observe in your issue of the 31st ult. that Portia advocates the development of the Tangarakau coalfield by the Government as a State mine, and in support of his advocacy states: “Private coalmining companies cannot work coal seams less than six feet thick at a profit, and so the thinner portions of the seams are lost, and as all coal seams vary from a few inches upwards, the loss to the country is considerable, whereas the State can work the seams as long as they pay working expenses.” This statement is so misleading that I challenge “Portia” to substantiate his statement. I have worked in coal seams of this island which were only three feet high, and the company is the most successful and best managed colliery in the North Island, according to the Mines Statement for 1925. Should “Portia” desire the Tangarakau coal measures developed, which is equal to if not superior to the coal measures of Great Britain, it is imperative that the Government develop our country according to the laws of terrestrial economy, that is, abolish the tariff custom duties, which to-day prohibit the importation of the machinery essential for the profitable winning of coal seams such as the Tangarakau coalfield. It is obvious that placing coal from this field will reduce, or should reduce, the cost to the consumer to the extent of one pound per ton compared with the present cost, and as I am advised it is a high-class steam coal, and that a good seam of household coal is found in the same measures, the fuel costs per year should be reduced, which will tend to cause industries to commence in our midst. Land values should rise. It is incumbent upon the Government to collect the rents of the soil to replace the loss or revenue that would arise from abolishing customs duties. The first essential to develop the coalfield is a branch line up the Tangarakau River into the centre of the Tangarakau Gorge, which is an ideal coalfield for co-operative coalmining by practical coalminers, who would extract all the coal that could be profitably won, and show that the muchdespised miner can secure for tile people cheap eoal, and by their activities bring into the Treasury an income equal to two hundred and fifty pounds _ per acre from the waste lands in the vicinity of Tangarakau. Sir, this is the ideal I place before your readers, instead of this will o’ the wisp, State control.—l am, etc., EXPERT’S CREED.