The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, SLUT. 19th. 1921. A RENING INTEREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, SLUT. 19th. 1921. A RENING INTEREST.

It is quite refreshing to note that there is the promise of a reviving interest in gold-mining. This i-s evid- ' cured by the following paragraph ,-olu an Auckland newspaper: “A deputation Ilf shiireludders representing various mining companies intends to interview the Prime Minister oil bis arrival in tbe Dominion with a view to having the Gold Mines Act amended in the interests of the mining industry generally, says the Wailii correspondent of tbe ‘‘Xew Zealand Herald.’’ Serious liandi’eaps at present existing, such as the high rental charged per acre, the heavy tax on companies, insecure titles etc., will be pointed out, the latter preventing the introduction of ,utsiile capital. It is felt that efforts should lie made bv tbe Government’s office in l.nndon with a view to inducing British capitalists now operating i'll Mexico, South America, anil other I'onntres to turn attention to the possibilities of New Zealand. The opinion is also strongly expressed that too many restrictions exist in connection with mining in this Dominion and that tile regulations governing the system of aid to prospecting (notwithstanding all promises by the Government) are of little use tbe genuine prospector.” 1 movement of this character to be effective should become widespread throughout the gold-mining centres,

and Westland and Otago should readily join hands in the efforts to shape a helpful mining policy for the Dominion, It Ins been, remarked oyer and oyer again that New Zealand is liyberiinting so far as its mining interests are concerned. There is inaction all along the line, and a neglect that is not at ell r-reditaMo. Tn the adtninist rat inn of tile country’s affairs, a Mines Depart-

ut is included, but it is inoperative in regard to any forward effort to promote and develupe the interests of tin' groat mineral resources thy Dominion abounds in. The Auckland effort is confined mainly to a desire to or-" up conditions to attract private enterprise. This, of course, is a useful Hep to take, and if successful it should result in an inflow of capital for dovclonmcntal purposes. Hut something might he expected from the Government also. Of which use is the Mines Department, if it is not used in an operative way to advance interest pertaining to the industry it controls. To he a live chneern it should aim at direction as well as control, for as a controlling influence it is more as a break (I an anything else. The outlook of the department requires to be widened. At present, it is more official and Imre u. cratlc than anything else, lacking the practical touch to give it the stimulating influence it should be. If n« is no doubt the case, mining enterprise is declining, the cause for s”’”» s''o,,'-l ' rectified, and removed or remcli"d T"is certainly should lie the (ask ot the Mines Department if it we;— < d-big a i ride in its work and duties. Where the helping hand is nm cssary. the Minot Department s'uu'M h" r>'dv to extend it, ami this ran la’ dime, as suggested hv the sgdnii-n in He \mk!and district, in casing no mining conditions and endeavouring to attract rather than repel enterprise. There is no doubt the industry is heavily -ta-ed at every turn, and now that the industry is obviously not yielding the volume of wealth it once did, the causes which contribute to that decline should be i”v'estiigiVtcd ami remedial measure.s taken, ,\s it is. the industry is left to take care of itself. Were it not for private enterprise, persevering in spite of all the obstacles and draw hacks where would gold-mining lie te-dav ? Surely the Mines Department- maintained at great cost annually for the furtherance of the indu.strv. has roseonsihilitirs too. ft would !"■ well to r'o •hose duties met. X-w ‘" ti:d attention is heiim i dled to the ter in Dm X )-Di 1D,., 1 t,c c D e gdil-mining lentres bi Dm . n i.D, TD ■ • | will co-operate along the same i'lies and assist in bringing the ovcrib'e 1 civil of mining to the x"rfVo •.i"a!i’