COAL FROM WHATAWHATA

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 6

COAL FROM WHATAWHATA

DAMAGE TO A WAIPA ROAD. OFFER TO THE COUNCIL. Writing in regard to coal royalties for cartage over the road from Whatawhata to Frankton, Mr Campbell Johnstone stated in a communication to the Waipa County yesterday that he could come to no other conclusion than that the Council had looked on the matter as a personal one, and for some reason unknown to the writer had made very good attempts to squash the Coal Company. To ask three lorry-drivers to enter into separate bonds of £SOO and to find sureties of like amount was anything but reasonable, and later to ask 6d per ton per mile had'the result of causing the suspension of all the work at the mine after spending over £IOOO on bins and machinery, which ( was now useless to the company. As it was very necessary to drive in coal seams to prove them fully before going in for large expenditure, the writer thought the county might have looked in a broader light upon what might be a very fine industry in time to come. It was trusted that the Council would reconsider the whole matter. Meantime the writer was prepared to pay £SO for road repairs. It was pointed out that no other carriers contributed, although they carted heavier loads than the Coal Company's lorries. The Council was' asked, to consider without prejudice a license of. say £BO per annum, to be divided pro rata with Raglan County, and the loads to be limited to three tons.

Cr. Livingstone said that there was nothing personal about the matter so far as he was concerned. He was acting purely in the interests' of the ratepayers, and he knew that the figure offered would not satisfy them.

It was pointed out that the 6d per ton per mile was expected to cover the period from- December last until the carting was discontinued in the winter. After discussing the subject further, the Council referred it to the chairman to again confer with Mr Johnstone.