HON C. E. MACMILLAN

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 6

HON C. E. MACMILLAN

REPAIRS TO QUAKE DAMAGE.

ARAPUNI and other, matters

(Per Press Association — Copyright

WELLINGTON, September 27. • The Hon. C. E. Macmillan states that the Governn ,ent is. taking immedilalte steips 1D .alleviate the diis-' tress caused. by the ’quake at. Wairoti, and Cabinet lias' agreed to the. ex-, penditure of £950 to repair the pipe, line, ,and so on. It has been decided; to proceed immediately with the erection of Me across the riyeri at a cost of £SOO. Use is to be madet of 40-gallon oil drums, .of which theacgs. are quite a number out to-wards Waikaremoana. Provision will he made for unhooking the bridge at flood time to avoid damage by timber coming down,.

Referring to the completion of the arrangement under which New Zealand ha,s secured a reduction in the price of raw material for (superphosphates which will mean a gain of £16,000 to the consolidated fund, Mr Mac-, mi Han said that the reduction applied to* the current financial year, and would help to offset the £165,C00 which represented the cost of the subsidy of 11s on every ton of super manufactured and sold in Neiv Zealand. Exemplifying the increased USe of super he said that deliveries from NKurua and the ocean, islands -this year - practically reached those of the peak reir of 1930, the estimate being 168,878. ' In 1930 the figure was 176,146, and last, year 132,130.

Mr Macmillan said that when the minor ' leak was. discovered last week above tho central drain in the head i race' near the, cut-off wall at Arapuni. the seepage suddenly diminished and a diver, who was sent down, discovered' that a Targe fish had become wedged in a crevice, diminishing th e volume of the discharge by half. It was a change to find\ something 'in the. nature of humour associated with activities at Arapuni, said' the (Minister. : ■ 1

He said that a complete agreement had been reached with' the Stale cOa 1 miners, and this had been signed bv the parties, and would .remain in' force till (February., It was practically on the same lines as that between the coal owners’ federation, and' the mine workers. It was adopted by the miners by 'a majority of 'lls votes, practically unanimous. Concessions made to men included one in connection with the 'transport of household coal supplies, and another has referenc e to broken time. The men are to be informed by whistle if there is .no work at the mines. Wages will still be paid fortnightly. The “hire and fire" clause was the same as in the' agreement with the owners.