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Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1922, Page 2

Ti.mu was when a visit from the Minister of Mines was of moment. The Hon Jas Auadcrson, the present Minister of Mines is due here this week, but the, is little t once ill in the visit-. The Milled Department appears to have got oilt of touch with its duties, s lice the tittle it was Shade an appendage of the Public Works Department. From that time on, even though it lias s:me bad a separate entity, it has lacked initiative. It has never kept in dose touch with tho fortunes of the industry, particularly in relation to gold production. The country owes a great deal to the gold mining industry, which first gave New Zealand an impetus in colonial life, populating the territory, and creating an industry which gave exports of great value. Our complaint against itlie Mines Department of late years has been that it) lias been without a progressive policy. Nothing is being done in an organised and scientific way to hell) the 'industry along. Research work on a properly organised scale is at a standstill, and mining interests are going back. In no other Department is there the same degree of stagnation. Other branches seek to promote the industries in -their charge, but milling in terests are neglected. Tho Minister’s visit on this occasibn is mainly to close down a public water race, and to- give a knock-out blow to mining ill the locality served. The Department appears to be out of touch with the Heeds of the industry, nor does it seek to give local opinion, Or help to cooperate with it. Tlie estrangement is going to have a. fatal effect ott tlm industry generally,

There Is a good deal of the foolhardy in the fhethods of some people. The person who did an aerial feat at Christchurch on Saturday, is a ease in point. These acts are interesting, and always attract the publib, but victims are often provided in -these modern times, as they were in the brave days of old for Roman holidays. It was fortunate that in the Christchurch instance the performer escaped with nothin" worse than a sprained ankle. The conditions were such that a broken neck might have been his reward. Those acts are all very well in their way, but one would prefer cases of necessity for their performance. Wo do not think that folk should be allowed to tempt providence in this way for personal gain, and in the interests of those who are prone to take risks, and a law should be passed to prohibit such dangerous exploits for purely spectacular purposes. There is much that is foolhardy in these public acts. The least slip or miscalculation, and what is intended as a pleasurable pastime, becomes a tragedy, which is tho more tragic because the public hv their patronage connived and encouraged it. In the Christchurch instance, the wind was stronger than the performer expected, and a little breeze was his excuse for receiving the sprained ankle. A little something else, and it might have been necessary to call in the coroner,. It is not wise in public interests that these avoidable risks should he taken for personal gain or public show, and the sooner the law is altered on this account and foolhardy stunts prohibited tho better for those predisposed to venture on foolish risks of no real value.