CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 October 1901, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A State Coal Mine.

A well attended meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the Town Hall last night, the President, Mr Matheson. in the chair.

The President said the meeting called for the purpose of considering the question of the coal mines which were in an unsatisfactory condition. Mr Allison certainly deserved great credit for the manner in which he had husbanded the coal measures of Brunner, but the company itself had been in difficulties from Us birth up. How Government proposed opening State Coal Mines and this district

had a prior claim to any other locality} Coal they had in plenty hut they had not as at Westport a powerful and wealthy company to develope it. It was in the interests of the colony to open and , work the mines both in the interests of the colonists genprally and in protecting the revenue of the Harbor Beard, the loans on which were practically Govorn-m-nt advances.

Mr. Campbell regarded the matter of great importance, and it required but little to be said. The coal industry had not been well controlled, for in 15 years the commodity had increased 35 per cent, and this without any proper cause, apart from indifferent control. He strongly favored a State coal mine in this district as essential to the welbeing of the colony. No energy, no enterprise had been shown and we were suffering thereby, and we must A now he up and doing if we intended to doX-ft our duty to the district. We should, therefore, urge the necessity of taking over the Coal Creek mines, which had been allowed to lie dormant.

Mr. Petrie moved that “ In the opinion of this Chamber it is essential in the best interests of the district and the colony that the Government should take over and develop the Point Elizabeth coal measures and work them as a State coal mine.” He said the position of coal mines in the district had been in an unsatisfactory condition for many years past, and it was incumbent on them in the interests of the district and the colony at large to urge upon Government the necessity of opening and developing a State coal mine in the district. The coal was there in abundance and of the best quality in the Southern Hemisphere, but companies, hampeied by finance, or other reasons, had not done their duty, or kept up to the terms of their lease. It was, therefore, their bounden duty to see that the people did not longer suffer under such disabilities. By the Stab that evening they would see the provisions of the Act that provided for more than one such mine, while the money provided £ISO,(XX) seemed ample for the purpose. It was in the best interests of the district, the colony and the Colonial Treasury that such a mine should he opened for the £300,000 loans due by the Greymouth Harbor Board was practically due to Government, and if the coal was not developed the revenue of the Board would suffer,. The Board itself was determined to do its utmost in the matter. It had ordered ah up-to-date boring plant, which was intended to prove Dobson Flat coal seams, and if these were found to he but half as good as was predicted they would have the finest mines south of the line.

Mr. Campbell, in seconding, said the resolution had his warmest support. Of course the line and bridge would have to be purchased, and it would take about £IO,OOO to thoroughly open the mine, but it was a great property and would give a splendid supply for many years to come. Mr. Thomas said they had been very patient for many years, but now they must do their duty and see that the district was not longer retarded as it had been in the past. He trusted their efforts would prove successful. Mr. Young thought the vote, would be ample for the present, for it would take some time to thoroughly develop the mine, and if insufficient another vote would likely be taken. The company, no doubt, had done its best, but evidently the finances were weak and hence the partial failure.

Mr Parfitt said the district was full of coal, and such as to warrant any Government in undertaking the development of the mines. He further favored a port at Point Elizabeth and a railway to Westport.

Mr Petrie thought it would not be ad* visable to put anything but the one issuei and this opinion being general the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Petrie moved, and Mr Campbell j seconded that copies of the resolution be f forwarded to the Premier, the Minister for Mines, Mr Guinness, and the Hon Mr Bonar. Carried. The Commonwealth Tariff. Mr Campbell thought the Chamber should express some opinion in regard to the protective nature of the Australian tariff. There could be no doubt but that it was aimed at New Zealand products. He did not favor reprisals, and he saw by the Groymouth Stab that it was not proposed to go in for such a tone of policy; but nevertheless a protest should be raised. Ho did not think the Australian tariff as it was propounded would ever become law. The increase so for as New Zealand was concerned was £166,000. Mr Young did not see the utility of the proposal. The sawmillers bad declined to take action, and that really was the item that affected them most. The matter would cure itself. They had seen how freetrade New South Wales had distarded protective Victoria. The President said that with regard to the Timber Company all their contracts were full for twelve months, and were f.o.b. atGreymouth, so that the tariff wou'd not touch them for some time at all events, besides the larger sizes of white pine was admitted duty free. The North Island was more interested in the trade than the West Coast, and the West Coast Association had therefore determined to v leave the matter in the hands of the Premier and Mr Guinness as representatives of the locality. Mr Petrie thought a general reslution was what required and he drafted one. The tariff was aimed at New Zealand. Prom figures in the Stab it would be seen that the duty paid on New Zealand products last year was £IIO,OOO but that under the Commonwealth Tariff the same goods would carry £267,000, which was a tremendous increase. It must prove detrimental to producers in this colony, and although it might not strike this district particularly hard, if it inflicted an injury'in ether districts it would bo reflected in their midst. Besides in the question of timber there was a direct blow. Hitherto white pine had been shipped in suitable sizes, but now it woul 1 have to go in largo logs to escape duty, and this meant decreased labor at the mills and less wage-earners in the district.

Mr Thomas thought they should enter this protcss and moved ‘‘that this chamber is of opinion that the tariff of the Australian Commonwealth is detrimental to this colony, and is further of opinion that the Government should take such stops as it deems fir, to protect the interest of the producers of New Zealand.” Mr Young seconded, holding that as the resolutions did not propose any retaliation it was perhaps correct..

Mr Parfitt thought the Australians were only imposing fresh burdens upon themselves. t

Resolution put and carried,