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Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1919, Page 2

The House put through the general Estimates last week. This simple sentence means that nearly twenty four million pounds of money were appropriated for. the public rervices of the country I Big figures, certain, and •steadily in advance of previous expenditure. The three principal departments involved in this great mctional expenditure were; railway over three millions and a half; education over two '“millions, postal and telegraph just over two millions. This is an indication of where the money goes. Some of the deparments like railways, posta customs and the State accounts, are reproductive in revenue, but a great deal of expenditure from the civil listdown to the education department, do not give a monetary return. The value is to be found in the administration of the country running smoothily, or in the betterment of the people through improved conditions. The House put the vast sum through rather smartly, and with an absence of acrimonious discussion. The estimates afford the opportunity as a rule for a free exchange of opinions regarding various phases of government, but in the present instance, members of the 'Opposition, were not frietitious, and Ministers in charge had a comfortable run. This marked behaviour was in contrast to the suggestions of the Reform press at the outset, which regarded the Liberal defection from the National Government as a sign of fractious opposition to worry the Government in season and out of season. Actually the- Government has had less trouble this session from the Opposition than in a ny other period when an official Opposition was arrayed ngaoinst it, and to this fact may bo attributed the smooth running of the Session.

The further effort to b e made locally regarding mining development in West, and is of interest, because it is proposed to concentrate on definite action. The last Conference held here was of a general nature, and was more in the direction of .ventiating proposals as affecting a mining poicy for the country. Now it is proposed to centre action on concrete proposals for endeavouring to develope mining hereabouts. Two main ideas are in mind. Tlie fiist is a deep level shaft suggested in the Kumara istrict, and the second is a prospecting party which it is suggested should operate between the Rimu and VTotara goldfields. Tlie two .matters deal with well proved auriferous territory as affecting shallow alluvial workings. The northern proposition. The Kumara goldfields has been a rich one, hut the lower levels of the district have never been tested effectively. There is a natural belief that below the level of the district have never been tested effectively. There is natural belief that below the level of the highly auriferous ground worked already there are further strata, of a gold bearing nature. It would bo in the interests of the district to prove this belief positively of course, because it is a natural deduction from facts that the gold could hardly have ceased to he deposited at tlio depth where workings have so far gone. The second -proposal is to test another belief, the finding or tracing of the gold leads connecting the deposits which have proved so valuable in the Rimu and Totara localities. Between these two fields is a considerable tract of country which should ho systematically tested, and the present idea is a suggestion in that direction. Other suggestions will be forreoming no doubt, but the foregoing should ho an excellent

beginning towards practical efforts to revive gold mining in this neighbourhood. ■!; ■