STATE COAL FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8401, 16 April 1907, Page 5

STATE COAL FOR MASTERTON.

COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

A meeting of the committee of the Masterton Borough Council, appointed to enquire into the question of establishing a State coal depot in Masterton, was held last evening. There were present Crs E. McEwen (chairman), J. Elliott, J. H. Pauling, J. C. Ewington and F. W. Temple. Mr J. Mackay was also in attendance. The committee went into the matter fully, and decided to make the following recommendations: That the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the Railway Department asking them to provide a site for a coal depot at the railway station; (2) that the Town Clerk write to the Government, through Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., asking that legislation be introduced to enable local bodies to buy and sell State coal; (3) that the Gas Manager be instructed to obtain two or three trucks of Seddonville State coal and sell a portion and report un the cost and result of distribution. The Town Clerk stated that the Council had no power to take land under the Public Works Act for the purpose of establishing a State coal depot. The cost of the plant that would be required for the State coal trade and the cost of working the business was also gone into fully, and it was decided to submit a report ont his master when replies have been received from the Government on the first two recommendations.