COALING STATIONS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43211, 6 August 1907, Page 4

COALING STATIONS.

Six- Joseph Ward, according to the j Blue Book of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference, presented to Parliament, said in regard Jto the question of coaling stations: —-“The New Zealand Government has seen its responsibilities connected with coalin'l' in onr country for a number of years. I think at the moment, . in round figures we have either provided for or guaranteed; the debentures to enable some of our West Coast ports in New Zealand to he first-class coaling places for the- purpose of the ex- ( portation of coal, and we have done so to the extent of over half a million of money. I listened to that portion of the observations of Lord Tweedmouth with special interest. In our country special facilities at Westport and Greymouth could he provided of a very satisfactory kind, and they certainly could he provided in Australia at the port of Newcastle! a harbour for the largest ship in the World couldl he provided at- a place called Point Elizabeth, near. Greymouth, and the finest coal in. the world could there he put aboard ships loading down, to any ordinary draught. If we can arrive, as I hope may .be the case, at some system of meeting the local sentiments of these selfgoverning countries as to how those ships, under the control and disposition of the Board of Admiralty always, should he equipped and manned, I think the ooalin.tr matter is of suffi- ' cient importance to enable us to probably arrive at a basis which in the course of a year or so we might be able to put into practical shape.”