THE COAL QUESTION
To the Editor “X.Z. Times.” Sir,—'ln common with other members of Parliament, I have had sent to me a circular letter from the town clerk of Runauga, West Coast, covering a resolution come to by his council, urging upon tho Government the immediate development of the new seams of coal discovered, prospected, and explored at the Aine-mile Bluff, near Runanga. Let me say at once that I have, m accordance with the request made, sent forward an urgent appeal to the Acting-Prime Minister, in wnich I have said that to palter with this matter, or delay in any way, would bo a crime against tho people of the Dominion. It is quite impossible to understand the conduct of the Reform Government, and, after it, the National Government, in this matter of coal shortage. 1 have read with absolute astonishment the excuses of the Minister for Supplies (Hon. A. M. Myers) and tho statement of tho fear expressed by tho Acting-Prime Minister (.Sir James Allen) that tho passenger trains might have to bo stopped and the whole machinery of trade and commerce come to a standstill because ot the shortage' of coal 1 Sir, with a senile of the responsibility which rests upon me in the making of such a statement, I say here and now that if suen a state of things should ever come to pass nine-tentus of the [name must tall upon those Ministers who have failed in their duty to the people of this country. 1 know that over twelve months ago a group of mines now being worked in the vicinity of Reef ton, ottered the Government that if it would lay down two and a half miles of railway—over a piece of quite level country—in order to link up with the existing railway line, they (the mine companies) would guarantee to send to Wedingtoff not less than 2001) tons of coal per month ! the slightest notice has been taken of that offer. It is a shame and a disgrace that, with winter upon us, and a coal famine imminent, the Government should fail so miserably.
I frankly admit that the miners on tho Coast have intensified'the trouble; but are they altogether to blame 'i 1 say they are not, and I stand to take whatever may be coming to me because of such utterance.' if you treat men like dogs you , cannot complain (you ought not to complain) if they behave badly—like dogs, in fact, and bite you pretty badly. The miners of the West Coast —and elsewhere —instead of being treated fairly and reasonably, have been made fiercely recalcitrant by tho attitude of the managers and directors of the companies. I do not wish here to go into particulars; 1 will leave that to a later stago in the House. Meantime, I reiterate what I have previously stated in your columns: that there never has been any necessity for a coal shortage at any time. The Government, or some other body, has played into the hands of the-coal-owners, and the shipowners, and the dealers. The Goveranieat has been inert where it should have been vijp lant and vigorous. Meantime, the householder pays £4 per ton for coal (when he can get it) that could be supplied for £2, and then leave a handsome profit. Sir, it is a strange fact that wherever tho Industries Committee has come up against the coal question the members have found this: That the railway in course of construction which would have carried the coal to market or the port has always stopped short from five to ten miles away from the actual or proposed mine workings.
' J. T. M. HORNSBY, Carterton, May 10th, 1919.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6
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619THE COAL QUESTION New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6
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