HE GOLD MINING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 11, 8 October 1918, Page 8

HE GOLD MINING INDUSTRY

DEPARTMENT'S POLICY ORITIi CISED. ■ Zealand's early history shows' at much of its prosperity has been ' ( e to the gold mining industry, and ftiularly on the West Coast 'of the Island. The issue of tho mo-jntj'-We, are even told by our Crown dusters, depends largely on the pro|ction.of gold. Notwithstanding the Jential value of gold itself, however, ■& would think from tho attitude 'opted-by one of the Departmental

officers at headquarters that his duty to this industry is one of hostile neutrality, says tJi'e "Grey River Argus." To any the very least, there is an utter lack of sympathy for the gold mining industry. There are exceptions, it is true, but there should be none — the law should be the same for the 95 per;'cent. as it is for the 5 per cent. Popular opinion throughout the Coast holds that i'i tho industry is to be fostered, then thero is urgent need, m the public interest, for a sympathetic officer, more especially as the objectivo of tho Mines Department and the Minister's personal desire are to encourage this difficult industry and see it expand. Repeatedly, attention has been drawn to this subject. The latest anomaly -is' that the Department has signified its intention to retard technical education in the branches of mining.' The Reefton School of Mines has received word that from Jnnuary 1, 1919, the subsidy that makes up the teacher's salary will be reduced. An offi-cial-letter from the head office, moreover, says that the number olf lessons to the students vill be reduced. The very fact that the'Dcpartment has intimated -its. intention of doing something that will seriously hamper technical education in mining cnlls for very strong censuve from .the West Coast. The Government's straightout grant of £200 and' the subsidy do not exceed ■£300 ■per"" annum "as" remuneration to thp director for his services. _

The Rcdfton School of Mines. during the past five years has extended its sphere of usefulness-to. Waiuta, Greymouth, and Blackball, without any increase of salary to the director. Technical education in any branch of oiir industry, .and particularly .the poklmiujng industry (which the Home Government has declared one of the most needed) is really the question of the hour, and! it plainly Js the duty of the Government and 'the Department to do everything possible to improvo this branch of work. There are yet many problems connected wijth- .this industry, but tlie first requirement for the Minister of this Department is to have trained officers, /with some warm enthusiasm for its growth. The second requirement is to give every opportunity to the student to gain technical knowledge'as well as. practical, and thereby encourage anyone, no matter who .he may be, to take some interest in the industry.' It seems that the time has arrived for reviving, the system that has been applied the last two yeare. The Minister of Mines is a district builder in himself, and for this industry, more than anr other industry, he needs an officer o'f tho same disposition, One thing is-certain, it is not the wish of the Hon. Mr. MacDonald to curtail expenditure to >Ae detriment of mining education. At present the public mind is excited about education questions. However, the tactics of -the Mines Department in regard to the West Coast have hoc been very encouraging.