Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1919, Page 2

Tiik Commonwealth Premier is one of the most aggressive characters at the Peace Conference, and being a very free lance lie is ready for a tilt- with all and sundry. His latest bout is with our Dominion Premier. The point of difference is the control of Nauru Island in the Pacific, famous for its phosphate deposits. The desire to possess the fertilizing products of the is land have produced a sharp division between ]\lr Hughes and Mr Massey, and Lord Milner proposes, not like Solomon of old to divide the island be tween tjje Commonwealth and the Dominion, but to take on the care of the precious gem set in the Southern Seas on behalf of Britain. Mr Hughes talked of "wresting” the island from the enemy, and maintaining a garrison! The "wresting” episode appears to be an unchecked landing from a whaleboat-, while Lord Milner explains that though there is an Australian garrison on the island, the force is paid from local revenue supplemented from the Imperial funds! Mr Hughes’ statement is therefore very much discounted. If his other bouts have been carried forward with speeches of a like nature, his statements generally are likely to he regarded as somewhat irresponsible, and his influence must he waning. Mr Massey* in the circumstances may ho able to drive a bargain that would be satisfactory to New Zealand. If lie could get the guarantee of certain supplies every year, a preference in point of fact, the compromise would bo worth making. The New Zealand Premier may be left to the settlement with every confidence, and whatever happens ho should come out of the episode rather better than Mr Hughes will, judging by present comment. Tub commencing of dredging operations

adjacent to Humphreys Gully is an event of more than passing interest. Tho enterprise responsible for this extension of the gold-mining dustry, is a very considerable one. Tho present dredge is the first perhaps of a series to work in Arahura Valley. At all events a second dredge has been > purehase’d for the same quarter, and 1 there are other areas to be dredged ] down the river, as the machinery can , be procured. The promoters had the j area well prospected before determining on the venture. Further, they have about them experienced workmen e who have proved their practical worth lin dredging. The conditions being so | favourable, point to a very promising outlook. In these days and generation, the mining industry has to take care of itself. Were it not for private enterprise, there would be very little gold mining. The Mines Department seems to have lost all idea of its special function to help propromotc, and develope the industry, and i in those circumstances it is good to have those coming amongst us who are prepared to test the latent resources of the district purely in a speculative way. There are four or five considerable en- | terprises going ahead in this district | and Westland is fortunate to be so fn- ! vored by private capital. The enterprise deserves the reward it- seeks. In the operations at Upper Arahura not the least interesting part of the works will be the task of replacing the. soil on the tailing debris, and so turn swamp land into pasture land. This is being done successfully in Otago and the introduction of the scheme here is further proof of the genuineness of the enterprise taken up by the Westland Mining Syndicate in our midst.