MINING CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2571, 15 May 1871, Page 2

MINING CONFERENCE.

No. 11. The action of the new Provincial Executive in calling together mining representatives to suggest to the General Government such modifications that should be made in the various goldfields Acts is wise and thoughtful, We urged in 18(59 the necessity of a consolidation of the laws affecting the gold mining interest, and the placing of that interest in en rapport with all the other interests that exist in the Colony. For years we have protested against the system that has prevailed of making special enactments for and inflicting special taxation upon the denizens of the goldfields of the Colony. Of course,[something like class legislation is necessary fur gold mining interests, as it is for the squatting and other ones. What we have, however protested against is that we residin' outlie gold fields should be considered as wandering Arabs, and treated as a distinct race of people almost—a class of people, like the children of Israel of old in Egypt—considered lit subjects to oppress and tax. Even the Hon. Mr, Stafford, in his address to the Assembly in 18G6, took a gloomy view of the benefits that the Colony would derive from mining enterpiise. That gen tlcman considered that the miner left behind him tracks of ruined land, and that the Colony in the end reaped no gain, if it did not even suffer a positive loss. With such sentiments prevailing in the Assembly, it is no wonder that the laws enacted for the government of the goldfields should be of a one-sided nature ; arbitary in their decrees and restrictive in their action. We gladly hail, therefore, the announcement that the present Ministry intend not only to consolidate the present laws affecting the goldfields but to propose a measure that will meet the changed circumstances of affairs. The Ministry deserve credit for the attention they have paid to the matter. We know that they have carefully studied the Victorian Blue Books, and, not content with this, they employed Captain Baldwin to report on the state of mining in California. We trust the Confeience will give attention to that report, especially tp that portion relatr ipg to water rights. Thp Conference will naturally only reflect the opinions of Otago

miners in minor details, but on the more comprehensive questions affecting the gold mining industry as a colonial interest, their views will naturally be those current amongst the class they are supposed to represent. We say suppose, because the election of delegates has been decided evidently upon personal grounds of fitness, not upon any declared opnions. Very great powers have thus been given to the members of the Conference ; further, because gold fields interests and views are much alike throughout the Colony. We are also glad to see that at the Thames and at the West Const goldfields the minors are alive to the importance of making their requirements also known to the Government. We are afraid the Conference will not rise to the occasion. The miners, in electing delegates, seem to have generally considered that their duties would consist chiefly in revising the regulations. These have only recently been framed by a Board of Wardens and act well 01 the whole—any interference with them by the new body would only lead to a system of tinkering. Such narrow duties are not required. What the Government looks to is for suggestions for the better government of the goldfields, so as to promote their social, permanent, and material prosperity. Let us pause to ask what these embrace.

Under the first head—social—we may put down homes, mining schools, a diffusion of knowle Ige of the best system of mining, prevention of accidents, and agricultural settlement. The rule, allowing a miner’s resi-dence-area of an acre upon the goldfields for a homestead, is surrounded with the same difficulties as that which surrounds minin'' on private property. The agricultural lease regulations have worked well to some extent, but require some restricting influence to - prevent the monopolizing of large areas of ground, as in fhe past, in the hands of speculabors. The dummy system has done some mischief, and the example set by men holding office has also done harm. The law has been openly set at defiance by persons of position who have command of capital. This has caused a demoralizing tendency which should be at once checked. In the diffusion of knowledge, and by its Act making companies responsible for accidents resulting from the ordinary laws of precaution, Victoria gives us useful suggestions. Tiie Chinese difficulty may be safely classed under this division.

Under the second head, we may include the extension of the leasing system, so that holders of one acre up to ten may obtain a clear title with a plan upon it ; also a reduction of rent and the reduction of the deposit to a nominal sum. The question is too large to deal with in detail in this article. Mr, Warden Beetham, in his last report, has made some remarks upon it which meet our approval. Then there is the water-right question. The allowing of two heads to How down a main tributary is becoming a necessity both to the plodding and poor miner, as well as to to towns, settlements, agriculturists, and other industries. This pa.t of the Act of 18(56 has in a great many cases been obeyed more in the breach than the observance of it. We have mentioned Captain Baldwin’s report before. The whole subject of water-ri.hts embraces a wide scope, dealing as it must do more or less with every o:her interest on the goldfields, and often out of them.

Under the third head, the class of subjects that require attention are numerous. The reduction of the gold duty; the establishment of a mint; encouraging the introduction of capital by a measure such as the Lien Act upon crops ; a board for the validating of titles and settlement of disputes (Captain Baldwin’s report may here again be referred to for some information, p. 8); the rendering of mining upon private property legal, and easy to be arranged; the reduction of fees; a less cumbersome system than complaints and summonses in many cases in the Warden's Court; the better defining of pena'ties, vide Actof I86(>; the encouragement of industries by grants in aid to copper and other works, &c. The list would be lengthened if we mentioned all.

If the Conference wM examine these ques. tions with others of a minor nature, and endeavor carefully to reflect the opinions of tin miners, they will not have met in vain. If, on the other hand, they venture to launch forth theories and crude ideas, they will end assuredly in clogging the wheels of a muchrequired reform.