HOUSING OF MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1919, Page 6

HOUSING OF MINERS.

A REAL GRIEVANCE.

(From Our Own Correspondent) S Wellington, May 15. * The coal miners, whose representatives | interviewed Sir James Allen to-day, are jj concentrating attc tion at tlie moment ■' on the housing conditions of mining townships. They state in effect that the shortage of coal is due to a shortage of miners, and that the shortage of miners will persist and indeed grow more pronounced until the housing conditions in the mining townships are much improved. A prominent member of the Miners' Federation had something to say to your correspondent on this subject to-day. If half the statements that he made are true, the miners have a very real grievance. The mining town of Blackball, where the sanitary conditions are admitted to be exceptionally bad, is practically the property of a single individual, who has persistently refused, it is stated, to make necessary improvements. There is no drainage supply and no water supply. The houses are small, uncomfortable and ill-found. The children are raised under most unsatisfactory conditions and the married miners are anxious to get away. There is another West Coast mining township situated on the bleak heights of a hill. The conditions make gardens impossible. There is neither drainage nor water supply. The children may play in the dirty creek that carries the drainage of the mine or, on the mine tramway, where accidents are likely. The houses are mere hovels and the coal dust penetrates everywhere. The mine officials live in much more pleasant surroundings a short distance away. This is the conditions of affairs as painted by the miner already mentioned. The Miners' Federation is asking the Minister for Mines to send a committee or a commission to make full examination of the conditions under which coal miners live in New Zealand. The Minister, as a matter of fact, is making a personal investigation of the situation at the present time and there is some ground for believing that he will recom mend improvements,