Minister of Mines.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 199, 2 September 1873, Page 7

Minister of Mines.

( Hazard.) Mr O’Neill asked the Premier whether Government intend to take any action daring this session in reference to the following clause in the report by the Goldfields Committee of last year:—“l am further desired to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, it is desirable that the mining industry should be represented in the Government by the appointment of a Minister of Mines, such an appointment not to supersede the local administration of mining affaiis 1” In doing so he wished to explain to the Premier that he knew the Minister for Public Works had so much to attend to in the way of railways and public works generally, that it was impossible for him to devote that attention to Gold-Beds interests which their importance required, and sometimes matters of great importance to the Gold-fields were neglected in consequence. This had happened with respect to waterraces. The difficulty arose from the impossibility of the Minister for Pubic Works being able to render that assistance to the Gold-fields they so urgently required. ' Mr Vogel replied that he was mt able to say that the Government wouU take any action in the matter this session. He was rather of opinion that it was scarcely within the functions of the Gold-ieldsl Committee to deal with so impiortant a{ question as the constitution of the Govern- j rnent of the country. This question involved some very difficult considerations—! whether the Government would not be { brought into collision with those persoxs who had the delegated charge of the Golifields. They had gone, he thought, as fa* as it seemed at present safe to go without corning into collision with those who hadi charge of the delegations. He was quite V repared to say that the Government were not prepared to take charge of the management of the Gold-fields, and to relieve the various Superintendents from the functions they had exercised during past years; and any action which the Government had taken was with the view of aiding and not opposing them. They had in the department officers whose duties were more or less connected with the Gold-fields, and there was sometimes a difficulty in sheering off’ from a collision. There had been instances in.which letters had. been addressed directly to the Warden without being addressed to the Superintendent, and of complaints in consequence. In short, the Government did not see their way at present to comply with the recommendation of the Committee.