STATE COAL MINES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 985, 28 November 1910, Page 10

STATE COAL MINES.

A BRUNNERTON REQUEST REFUSED. STATE FULL-HANDED ON THE coast: Representatives from tho Bruniier and Grcymoutli districts formed a deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister and the Minister for Mines on Saturday afternoon. The deputation, which arrived from the coast by the Arahura, urged that tho Government should purchase the Wallsend coal mine, Brunnorton, which mine has been closed for some time past. It was stated that the workings proved tho existence of over 2,000,000 tons of coal in the area which could be reached by the existing shaft. As an alternative to State ownership it was suggested that tho Government should purchase the freehold land on which the shaft stands and convert it into a mining reserve— the rights to be leased to local people, who had'expressed a. willingness to take up the lease if the Government would advance enough money to equip the mine. Tho working capital, it was stated, would be found locally. It was known that tho Brunner mine would, soon close down, and, remarked one of tho deputation, it was'pathetic to see the way in which a once, thriving borough had to face its extinction. The interests of tho present owners could be purchased at a reasonablo figure. In replying to the deputation, tho Prime Minister said he sympathised with the people of the borough, but at the same time it was impossible for the Government to undertake another State mine on the West Coast. Including' the mine that was at present being developed, there were three State mines on the coast. The question of purchasing private interests was, he said, worth considering, but it would need to bo proved that those who took up the mine would be able to: carry it on without having to come to the Government for assistance, thus indirectly creating another State mine. The Minister for Mines (the Hon. B: M'Kenzie) spoke in similar etrain.- If. 20,000,000 tons of' coal were in sight, he said, the Government could riot start another mine on the West Coast.