COAL FOR TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1920, Page 4

COAL FOR TARANAKI.

POSSIBILITIES OF MOKAU. OPENING OF RIVER ADVOCATED. The failure of those responsible for the, formation of the Taranaki Progressive League to make the opening of the Mbktyu River one of theSnost important works required in Taranaki, with a view to making adequate supplies of sea-borne coal readily available, was stressed by Cr. Lyon tit the .meeting' of the Inglewood County Council yesterday. ; The matter cropped up during a discussion as to whether the Council should contribute £lO 10s towards the League. Cr, Lyon remarked that, he considered it an ill-considered and onesided scheme. Tf they were honest in their desire to promote sea-borne trade to New Plymouth, ami make the. best use. of the harbor there, they would not have ignored the natural advantages of the co*l -deposit* at the Mokau, which could bt> landed at New Plymouth and Vailed to this district, thus enabling coal to be made available cheaper and quicker than by wailing until the railway was pushed 011 to the deposits in the Ohura district, which, he considared, were practically similar to Mokau. He did not like a scheme '"that obviously boosted one part of the district ut the expense of another." Cr. Simpson also considered that th? conference had made a. great mistake in overlooking tho Mokau River,'and lite Council would ho doing good service in drawing attention to this. The chairman said that the question of Mokau coal had been considered, but Mr. Newton King considered ii. would cost £IOO,OOO to open up the river, and that the coal from there would not prove a good business propositibn, owing to the amount of handling. What was required was a mine handy vo the rail, from which coal could be distributed to all pans of the district. Mr. King \vas keenly interested in the development of the harbor, and this svaiifmeni, coming from such a keen business man, seemcrl to influence Hu- whole of the representatives present. Cr. Lyon ni^o,referred to the proposal io bridge the Mokau. pointing out the necessity for providing against the bridge proving a bar to navigation, lie moved that the matter be deferred for a time. | Cr. Cameron considered that the Progressive League should be supported in every way. It was a most important matter that Taranaki should be develop-' 1 ed. Cr. Hair seconded the motion. Cr. Simpson moved as an amendment that the Council pay the contribution,' provided it could legally do so. This was seconded by C'r. Jones, and carried, Cr. Lyon withdrawing his.ipotion.