STATE COAL MINES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2152, 7 August 1907, Page 2

STATE COAL MINES.

FACTS CONCERNING A SOCIAL ISTIC EXPERIMENT.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August 6. On the motion of Mr. Hogg, an interesting return regarding the State Coal Mines was presented to Parliament .to-day. The quantity of State coal conveyed to the various ports during the last financial year was: Greymouth 24,601 tons, Wanganui 11,451, Dunedin 19,626, Nelson 1,690, Onehunga 5,355, Picton 1,452, Gisborne 120, New Plymouth 8,355, Wellington 38,041, Napier 5,705, Lyttelton 30,152, Bluff 8,046, Foxton 9,421, Oamaru 5,119, Timaru 4,432, Darga-vil’-s 197, Westport 5,765, Waitara 75 ; total 179,612 tons. Tlie freight amounted to £50,252 and tile insurance to £175. A section of the return shows to' whom the money was paid "as follows:—Union S.S. Co. £38,942. Johnston and Co.. Ltd. (Wellington) £4,738. Levin and Co. (Wellington) £4,326, Anchor Shipping Co. £2,044, McArthur and Mill £169, Gisborne Frozen Meat Co. £3O. Tlie insurance was with the China Traders Insurance Co., amount £175. The quantity of coal supplied for the Government service was 114,714 tons, valued at £109,968. The Hon. Sir. McGowan moved that

the return he laid on the table. Mr. Jas. Allen suggested the usual addition, viz., that the return be printed. Mr. McGowan objected. He said it was not necessary to go to the expense. Mr. Allen (who had meantime ob-

tained the paper) pointed out that tlie return was a most important one and being extremely short would costonly a few shillings to print. He moved an amendment that the return

be printed. Mr. McGowan said Mr. Allen was : coal mine owner and wanted the in foimation published in order to have “a go” at the State coal mines. Mr.-Allen: “That is not so.” Mr. McGowan then said that he would have no objection to the jirinting of the return. Mr. Massey said the reference of tlie Minister for Mines to the mem-

ber for Bruce was scarcely fair. If Mr. Allen were managing director of a coal company he would not refuse to give the shareholders the information to which they were entitled. In this case the public were the shareholders and as the return dealt- with large sums of money it should be printed for their information. There was one item of £50,000 for freight alone and yet the Minister suggested that it was not an important return. It was of far greater importance than many returns that were included in the Blue Book.

Eventually the Minister agreed to nove that the return be printed and his motion was carried.