MOKAU COAL MINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 2

MOKAU COAL MINES.

Sir,—After listening to Mr S. 0. Smith's remarks with regard to his correspondence with die Ministers re the opening of the Mokau coal mines, one Is forcibly struck with two aspects of the question—one Mr Smith's persistent advocacy of the advantage to Taranald of the opening of these mines as veil as his general Interest in the district as a. whole, and the apparent Ignorance of the conditions obtaining on the part of -boac who ought to be specially well informed on the matter. It Is not so long ago that' It was stated that the reopening of the mines was not feasible* Later it was said that the cost would mean an expenditure of £IOO,OOO, while the latest reply to Mr Smith was that at a very small outlay the river could be cleared to the mines, so that boats drawing 12 feet of water could Be worked at high tide. It seems to me that the trend of events polity) to an easy solution of this problem, and that In the naar future tho whole of the West Coast of the North Island, and New Plymouth In particular, will be drawing their ooal supply from this source. The valuable qualities of the coal are not disputed, and It only remains for local interest to be sufficiently aroused, so as to assist Messrs Smith and Jennings In securing for tin; district the benefit of tho millions of tons of coal ljlng useless at their very door.—l am, -ate, RATA.