THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 735, 4 October 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

For a long time past it has been evident that a complete and very radical reform is needed in the administration of the Gold Fields of the Colony. Although the production of gold has for many years formed one of the most important — if not the most important of all — branches of industry in New Zealand, the subject of fostering and extending it, and of making it subserve the great purposes of colonisation have been most strangely neglected. It is a matter for more than surprise that successive Governments have donesoliltle towards the encouragement and extension of this pursuit, which above all others has been, and could be made to continue to be the most profitable to the Colony. But yet, so it has been. The gold fields and the various interests connected with them have been almost utterly neglected, so far as any national efforts or care are concerned. No ministry has as yet thought it worth while to consider the gold mining industry of New Zealand worthy of special consideration or attention. Each Government has been content to take the increased revenue which the gold fields have been the means of producing ; and to periodically congratulate the Colony on its good fortune, without attempting to take 3teps for securing any continuance or exteusion of this rich source or colonial wealth. The gold fields have been left to chance and the vicissitudes which are natural when no effort is made to prevent or restrain them. There can be no doubt that much as New Zealand has benefited by its gold fields, it has lost an enormous amount of national capital, much of which might have been retained had the question of gold fields administration been treated as a Colonial one, and the Government of the Colony had set itself earnestly and intelligently to work in order to consolidate the. mining interests and afford due facilities for permanent occupation. Had the importance of the gold fields been properly recognised, the Colony would not have waited until now for State assistance in the direction of furnishing water supply. Nor would the measure which has just been initiated have been so crude and inchoate as it is. Nothing could be more incomplete for its purpose than that portion of the Public Works Act, which refers to water supply on the gold fields. Of all other works these require the most careful consideration both in tbeir origination and carrying out, but there is absolutely no proper machinery provided for either one or the other, and we are tolerably certain that nothing will come of it until after next session of^the Assembly. The wretched infirmity of the Act in this particular instance is entirely due to the utter want of intelligent knowledge of the circumstances and requirements of the gold fields which pervades the Government. Not only is the Government ignorant, but it is absolutely indifferent and careless of knowing. Last year a resolution was carried on the motion of Mr Harrison to the effect that complete and detailed reports on each gold field in the Colony should be laid upon the table of the House at, the commencement of each session, in order that the members should be enabled to form an idea of their importance and wants, but the Government was so careless about the matter during the recess that tho reports furnished were most incomplete aud disconnected. In fact the Government took no trouble about them further than requesting the various local authorities to send what they chose. In everything respecting the gold fields the same apathy and neglect is apparent. The mass of gold fields' legislation is conflicting, ponderous and involved ; entirely due to the want of Parliamentary interest in the question and of Govermental attention. What could more thoroughly exemplify the ill effects of this " devil-may-care " policy than the absurdly anomalousand contradictory measures of last session. The Colony had for some time been suffering from a serious fallingoff in its revenues, and from a . general prostration of its commerce. It was necessary to adopt measures if possible to counteract the depression. One would have thought that the fr t step would Lave been to give additional encouragement to that branch of colonial industry which is by far the most influential in its effects upon trade and revenue — gold mining. But no ! Thousands of people are to be brought to the shores of the Cok ny, to be employed on works of the most speiulative character, or to be planted as cultivators and compe it >rs in already over-supplied markets ; Royal Commissions are to be appointed to promote the development of the flax manufacture ; ]iroteotion in its most odious form was attempted, but the richlyifertile

sources of national wealth— the gold and coal fields of the Colony were regarded merely cit passant. As fai as Westlaud is concerned, its means of developing its territory were absolutely taken from it by the capitation scheme. The abolishment of the old system of sharing in the consolidated revenue may be desirable, but if the Gold Fields of the Colony— and what is Westland but a mere gold field — were regarded as a colonial estate and not simply as petty local divisions, other provision would have been made for opening up onr extensive resources. In every department of gold fields administration reform is necessary. Whether it be with regard to the mere technicalities of mining occupation, or to larger questions affecting the welfare and prosperity of the mining population, a more authoritative position and responsibility on the part of the Government of the Colony is demanded. The present system of delegation is productive of confusion, and dissatisfaction, whilst it is devoid of a single element of responsibility. How to bring about a better order of things we shall endeavor to point out in a future article.