UNKNOWN

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 February 1901, Page 4

UNKNOWN

The Coal Commission sat in the County i Chambers yesterday afternoon and took : evidence from members of tlie Trades and Labotir Council. the iAßornnns [n;QnKSM3NTS. Messrs Foster, Betts, and Coppersmith who were the first three to offer evidence said that they desired to have the Act so amended to make the ventilation of mines, by means of fans, compulsory. They entered into details of a technical character as to working mines, more especially in regard to the loss of coal through pillar work not being properly dealt with. They held that Government should open and dovelope mines and run them as state concerns and thought that mines at a long distance from ports should get tho mineral carried at the same rate as coal mines nearer the point of shipmont. STRONG CIURGES. Mr E. Russell, Mayor of Brunner, who followed, declared that the coal measures of Brunner had been sacrificed by the Westport Coal Company. He asserted that at the time the Wallsend Mine was closed down, there was magnificent coal in sight. There was bad too, but the shaft would command a large area of first-class «oal. The Tynsidc'and Coal Pit Heath Mines had likewise been closed down by the same company, and the Brunner Mine had been abandoned in many places which had been subsequently opened. and make to pay well. He desired the bore hole in the Brunner

Mine to be put down and blamed the Company for stopping, the Harbor Board, being willing to continue. He said the mine from start had been badly worked and declared that either the management or Government Inspectors were much to blame. He thought there existed an unbroken seam from Dobson for a stretch of five miles and urged that boring and development should be proceeded with energetically. He affirmed that the present output of tho Brunner Mine without further prospecting could be maintained for eighteen months. Mr Haselden, in thanking the witnesses, said they had supplied very valuable information, which would materially assist the Commission in their report.