STATE COAL MINES.

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

STATE COAL MINES.

Discussion in the House.

(p2R PRESS ASSOCIAIION),

Wellington, This Day,

When the Mines Department Estimates were before the House, Mr Massey and several others wanted to know what was the present position in regard to the State coal mine which was referred to in the Governor’s speech. The Hon. Mr McGowan said it would be ve-y foolish to go into an enterprise of this kind without having made duo and proper enquiry. That enquiry was now being made by the inspecting engineers and men qualified to give an opinion on the matter. They were examining different parts of the colony in order to locate what was considered to bo the best* field to be opened up by the State for its own requirements in the first place. He believed the experts were now on the West Coast. Regarding the high price of coals at places like Christchurch, Wanganui, and Wellington, ho agreed that there was a disparity between the cost when it left the ship’s side and when it left the consumer, but ho thought_ it was a mistake to say that the companies were to blame. ■>lc must be borne in mind, too,'that after coal left the mine there was always a loss. Mr Jas. Allen contended that but for the proposals for a State mine the price of coal would have been lower than it was at present, and in proving this statement he said an English capitalist had been looking over the coal areas of Nelson with a view of opening them up, but as soon as a State coal mine was mooted he withdrew. Mr Allen said ho only know of throe mines in the colony that paid.