TANGARAKAU COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1921, Page 4

TANGARAKAU COAL.

In a letter to the Taranaki Progressive League from the Minister of Mines (Mr. Massey), covering the report made by the Government Geologist (Mr. Morgan) on the result of the latter’s inspection of the Tangarakau coalfields, the Minister states that outcrops in the Tangarakau gorge so far examined are “decidedly disappointing,” and that it is unlikely this coal can compete successfully with other coals outside the district in question. At the same time the Minister admits that the seams “deserve a certain amount of prospecting,” and that if the gorge is tappe'd in the near future by a timber tram-line, fairly cheap transport for small quantities of coal will be available as far south as Stratford. He also considers that a detailed geological survey of the Tangarakau and adjoining districts is necessary, and that surface prospecting is advisable, but he stipulates that the League should pay. the. .wages of one or two men required on this work. The geologist’s report, though’ Considered by members of the management committee of the League to be unsatisfactory, justifies the examination made, as Mr. Morgan’s mission was to report as to whether a geological survey was advisable, and his reply is in the affirmative The only course for the committee to take under the circumstances was to urge on the Minister .to proceed with the survey, and this was done. It is not desirable to speculate on the results of this survey, there being no lack of confidence in the people of the district as to .the existence of a good quantity of coal there. The Minister stresses the fact that the shortage of the coal supply is due to want of miners, and not to scarcity of coal, but the question of price is also of much importance, so that the nearer a coalfield is to thji consumers the cheaper should be the coal, and. in these days when economy is so essential every effort should 'be made to reduce the cost of living. The opening of coalfields at Tangarakau may be of no interest to Wellington or Auckland, but would be of great importance to Taranaki, hence the League is doing good service to the province by its vigorous action over this matter The question of transport will doubtless be solved satisfactorily when Taranaki receives a square deal over the construction of the Stratford - Main Trunk line.