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Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1922, Page 2

The .affability of the Minister of Mines made his visit here a pleasant occasion all round. As to the practical value resulting from the visit we have not very great hopes The. position reI gnrding the Kumara water race was not made much surer. The proposal on behalf of tlie Grey District Power Board rather camouflaged matters as affecting the gold miners. If the suggestion had not been in tlm air a s regards the power scheme, the miners would have known better where they are ns regards the future. As it is the prospect is very indefinite, and will remain so till the Power Board seriously considers a scheme. If the Board is disposed to take up a hydroelectric scheme, experts will probably advise in the end that a more stable supply than the water race which is also old, will be required. If there is to be a large initial cost for installation, the Board must take up a project with reserve powers for future expansion. A high cost for a scheme, limited in its power production capacity would not be wise. Till a definite scheme is devised the gold miners will he in an uncertain position. It remains to he seen whether the miners when associated can cut down expenses. To he ultimately successful, they will also require to cut, down charges for the water, if the poor ground is to be worked. This latter contingency means a bigger cut still in expenses, and that of course must not be made in such a way as to jeopardise the safety of the race. At the best there is a little more breathing time, but it appears it will bo the Minister rather than the miners, who in the end must

come forward with concrete proposals to help save the position.

The Minister was as frank to the local miners as he was to the Thames miners last year when discussing the gold premium question. Mr Anderson, os did Mr Massey, and also the Mines Committee of the House of Representatives, admitted that a wrong was done to the miners. Mr Massey fobowed that up by appealing to the Home authorities for redress. Relief from that quarter was denied because the liability would not be accepted. Yet it is plain that there is a liability and in the circumstances it is not unreasonable to expect the Government a s representing the whole Dominion to do something practical to right a wrong. 'l'he matter is capable of adjustment on a reasonable basis, and the Government is tile only tangible authority to which an appeal could he made. In regard to the meat pool tlie country is standing between tho producers of beef and mutton and a loss. If there is a loss, the country will have to bear it. It may he a million or more of liability, or there may be no loss at all. But the meat producers have the government back- , jug behind them and the industry is , content and w,ill flourish. Now why j should not this special form of treatment he meted out in a varied form for the producer of gold? Why should there be distinction between the two classes of producers ? There is no satisfactory answer to the query. Then, the obvious thing is for the Government to shoulder the liability in the j ease of the gold miner and do a fair thing. Ministers offer the miners emp,ty sympathy. That does not make good the loss they have suffered. A Government which devised tho meat . pool could frame a replenishing pool | for the gold miner if it had a mind to ! do sc and then let it he done.