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Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1920, Page 2

The fact that to-day is the 26th birthday of the Prince of Wales will interest many people in the Dominion, for the reason that the Prince was .so lately amongst us winning the hearts of the people. It is a little over a month now since the Hoir Apparent was here going and coming among the people just as one of themselves. In Australia he is repeating hia triumphs. Sydney has excelled Melbourne in the exuberance of its welcome, Prince Edward is as great an established favorite in one State as the other. Mr David Lloyd George has aptly styled the Prince of Wales Britain’s greatest ambassador, for whe'eovor he has gone his charm of manner and directness of unaffected action have won the people over to him. When the time comes for him to tour India, despite the' opposition shown in advance, the Prince may lie relied upon to coinport himself in the same gracious and winning manner as has characterised ! m in the overseas countries. There will of course be no objection to him personally, and if will be his pleasant and agreeable personality which will carry him through. The welcome now being extended to the Royal visitor in Australia has its significance, for it emphasises that deep down in the hearts of the people there is a genuine loyalty and effcction to the King aij the bead of the Empire. However, loud, a noisy element may roar or rougnly threaten to act, there is that great ban i of people to counteract any attempt to overthrow ordered government. The Prince’s visit has brought out this power for go'd and right very happily and in a manner plain to all who care to read the signs regarding national unity and aspirations.

Paiiliament opens to-morrow, and at the time of writing the country is still without a completed Cabinet. This is a remarkable position in view of the fact that the party in power had a sweeping majority at the po'b s months ago. The difficulty about filling the vacancy and allotting the spare portfolios appears to be due to *he meJ'ocrity of Mr Massey’s following. As it is, he was some time selecting the fresh face s he lias about him, and the effort appears to have exhausted the eligibles who might pass muster. Mining districts have special reason to complain that the Ministry of Mines has not been permanently filled yet. Sir William I l aser nominally fills the gap. bur as l e s not now an elected member of Parliament his position is really that of a makeshift. New Zealand is swinging back to the time when it will require to use-its resources to the fullest extent to carry on. During the war, and with* the great rush of funds resultant from the Imperial*commandeer, money has been plentiful. Tt was really the period when the country might have to the best advantage set about to discover its hidden mineral resources, but mines and mining were in a somnolent condition, and will be so until the Department is galvanised into new life. For years now the country has lacked a mining poTcy. It has done nothing, such as has been done in other allied departments, to exploit the resources, and stagnation has resulted. What is to be done about it now The members particularly of mining districts should unite and demand justice and consideration for the one great industry which gave the colonies their first- and real start in national life.