The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1887. THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1694, 25 October 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1887. THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Among the papers recently laid on ths table of the House of Representatives was a report on the mining industry of the colony, prepared by Mr W. J. M. Larnach, the late Minister of Mines. The report is a very interesting document, and to it is appended a series of tables relating to mining matters all the world over. Mr Larnach points out that the long continued depression which has hovered around almost every kind of enterprise throughout the world, has not affected the mining industry of New Zealand to any appreciable extent. He goes on to show that miningventuresinNewZegland,and all business appertaining to them, can be carried on upon as sound and safe a basis as investments and transactions m any other industry or business m the world; In doing this he thus proceeds : — " For the sake of comparison, let me just begin with the agriculcurist; and follow to the end the result of his pursuit m this colony. According to our most recent statistics the area of land under cultivation, inclusive of grass and all other crops, is 1,182,680 acres, and the estimated value of the produce I s £^958,387, from which I apprehend it would be reasonable to deduct the cost of seed, at not less than 10 per cent, on the total value, which would make the net result of agricultural produce amount to From the last census I learn that there are 51,57$ persons iollowing agricultural pursuits, and, taking the value of the product which their labor returns, it would give an average per head of las 2d. From the same source I find that there are 13,926 persons following the occupation of mining and digging for minerals ; and the result of their work for the years appears A division of this sum equally among thos£ engaged m mining will show an average of £106 13s sd per head; and I think I may fairly place as a "setoff, one against the other, the value of plant and tools for carrying on mining operations, as against plant, implements} and horses necessary for agricultural purposes. It therefore will surely be admitted that the mining industry gives not only a better income to the individual employed m it than does the agricultural industry, but the result to the country generally is more profitable, as the soil is never being worn out and exhausted by the work of the miner." From 185 1 to 1884, so far as he has been able to gather, be makes the total (juiotity of gold produced 300,164,657

dzs.. eal to 8340 tons of the value of gold, 802,995,251. The total value \ o( goksilver, and olher mineral products the chief countries (including our a) m the world for 1884 amouid to or 17s per hd of population m the countries referr< to. New Zealand bears a happjomparison with 19 other great miner-producing countries — the value of henineral products being £z 1735 per nd of population according to the last csus. In the Australian Colonies New ealand takes third place with £1 is 7d per head, Queensland i lakinfiist with 10s 6d per head, Victa second with £2 19s 3d, per head." These figures and facts (says Mr Inach) I trust will serve to show that ur mining industry is not a langdiing one, nor has it suffered injuriisly, compared with every other indusy m the colony, during the manjyears of depression that have cloud all enterprise m this and other parts)f the world. I think I might takeipon myself to say that the preset ouil»ook of our mines has justild to a great extent the expenditure m works already constructed, besids such other works as may m the futur become necessaty to be undertaker for their further development." At tt end of March last the number of rm engaged m mining pursuits was coiimatively small, being 11,782 j but the amount of gold duty and other goldelds revenue paid for the year wa3^4°»6si— equal to £$ 9s per hea( To include the families belonging > the miners would fully make up 57,00 people. By the customs reveue it is estimated that a consumption:^ dutiable goods equal to 16s 6d per cad obtains, which would produce .£4,025, and this sum added to goldfield revenue, makes a total o that this colony is receiving by 'ay of taxation from the labours and enterprise ot 11,782 miners — a trifli under os per head." Surely (sayi the ex-Minister) I might almost clam as a •' miner's right" that such an indutrious and patient class of taxpayes will m the future be dealt with moreliberally than m the past." Tfere are other matters oi interest consiiered m the report, to which we shall efer m subsequent articles.