WAIKATO COALMINES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 29, 29 October 1942, Page 6

WAIKATO COALMINES

First Meeting Of Control Board (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 82. A large volume of business was dealt with iby the Waikato Coalmines Control Board at its first meeting held in Auckland today, stated the Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb, who is chairman of the board, at the conclusion of the proceedings. The board was set up under the Emergency Regulations following .on the Waikato coalminers’ strike. ■ The meeting was not open to the Press, the Minister stating that the board would function in the same way as tt board of company directors. In a statement the-Minister said a large agenda occupied almost four hours. Unanimous agreement had been reached on all matters with the except ion of the appointment of Mr. C. .1. Strongman, superintendent of State coalmines, as superintendent of the mines under the control of the board.

‘■The representatives of the owners were against this proposal on the ground that they had efficient managers and would prefer the management to be completely in their hands,” said the Minister. “I pointed out that as the State was so much involved in the control it was desirable to have a State superintendent. in charge, and this was carried on my casting-vote.” The question of additional housing for the miners had been discussed, and Mr. J. Fletcher, Commissioner of Defence Construction, had been called in to confer with the board. He had given an undertaking to make the building of 40 new houses a matter of urgency, and their construction would be put in hand almost immediately. Labour and materials would be madeavailable, and it was proposed to erect houses in the Rotowaro and Glen Afton districts. ’ The full board would visit Huntly tomorrow to meet the Industrial Production Council to discuss ways and means of increasing production.