THE COAL POSITION.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 May 1919, Page 5

THE COAL POSITION.

Before the Industries Committee in Wellington, Mr. H. J. H. Blow, made some interesting remarks concerning the coal shortage in New Zealand at the present time # There was, he said, any amount of coal in New Zealand, hut the difficulty was the acute shortage of miner*. Endeavours were being made to secure the necessary men fOr the work. It seemed that a man had to be born a miner, for it was an extremely difficult matter to secure new men. There bad been a big drop in the coal and gold mining populations during the past year. The only remedy, it appeared, would be for a boy to start at an early age as a trucker. Such an employee reecived 12/ a day if a regular man, and a contract man had been known to earn as much as 18/ to £1 per day. The conditions, too, were excellent, in fact better than obtained in any form of employment. The State mines bad at present room for 100 men. New Zealand had never been able to depend solely on its own coal supplies, but bad bad to import coal from Australia. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (the chairman): That is our object a s a Commission — to promote local development of these industries. Mr. Veitch: Could not some scheme be devolved which would make mining an attractive form of employment? Mr. Blow: Well, it is a difficult matter, Mr. Veiteh; but it is one that should be tackled. . Mr. Veitch: Why not increase the ! men's salaries ?

Mr. Blow replied that the wages were at a vory nigh rate now. He again pointed out that some truckers —in which position a man must commence—were receiving as much as IS/ oi' .£1 per day.