THE MINING INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1926, Page 4

THE MINING INDUSTRY

Commenting on the recent Mining ('.■inference held ill Dunedin, the Lake Wakatipu Mail says:—Some arresting remarks were made by .Mr J. F. Downey. Inspector of Mines, in a paper presented by him to the conference, and in these may be found the key to future operations. The position was dispassionately reviewed and practical proposals laid before the delegates. He said in effect that whilst* many metals are known to exist beneath the lrl'ace of the soil in this Dominion they are not found in payable quantities. This many people who have invested money in various enterprises know to their cost. Wonderfully rich specimens of metals, in addition to gold have (.ecu found in various localities. Companies have been floated cm the strength of these, but in most cases the investors were doomed to disappointment because of breaks in the lodes and the difficulty of finding them again. This lias been a common

experience so far. but as Mr Downey points out. only about one-seven ill of the -oil lias undergone scientific investigation. and it is impossible to say what the remainder contains. There were large mineral-bearing tracts to which, owing to difficulty of access, be was unable to give more than the most cursory examination. Tt lias to lie remembered also that the prospectors, generally speaking, took little interest in minerals other than gold, which means possibly that profitable opportunities ill the mining of other metals won* ignored. There is much force, therefore, in Mr Downey’s contention that in New Zealand there* ere still wide areas urgently in need of probing Icy the* pick <d the competent prospector. In addition to gold in quart/, deposits and perhaps in deep leads, fair quantities of iron, asbestos, dolomite, mercury, and other metals have been found. i.n CoHingwood County, which contains many minerals, iron ore is being smelted and last year 7RO tons .of pig iron were sold to iron founders in the Dominion, who were

satisfied with the quantity. .Mr Downey’s proposal is that if the metal mining industry is effectively to he revived there must lie well organised. systematic, ’.and persistent prospecting efforts. The leader of each party should pos.-ess special technical mining knowledge, and must have : h-olcdc cn'.itrol. Government help in finance might he expected. To provide the balance, local prospecting and provinc in) associations might he formed, or a national association could he established to undertake the work in the iutedests of the whole Dominion. In Mr Downey's opinion, a strong national association was the most practicable way of dealing with tile matter. As has been indicated, the solution of the problem will tie found in careful geological survey and scientific prospecting on a comprohcn-

sive bn si.-. The discUssum tliai followed Mr Downey’s paper -honed that lie had made a deep impression on the delegate.-..'niul, it was dear that the majority of the speakers thought that he was on the right lines. It is a matter of supreme importance 10 this young country, its surface has merely been scratched, and it is to he hoped that I he proceedings of tin- Coiil'erenee will mark a definite step forward to a revival i,i our mining iudiislrv.