The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1928.

GOLD MINING REVIVAL. Mention was made in this column last week of the wonderful gold yield in this district in the early days of the district. Although the yield lias been declining, it is impossible to think with’ reason that the gold on the coast is exhausted. Unfortunately, there is not much being done to recover the lost leads or discover fresh alluvial ground or quartz lodes. One of the drawbacks to Mining in the Dominion has been the increased east of production, and although representations were made to the Government, nothing was attempted to combat the paralysing effect of the increased changes put on the industry. Australia, however, has taken a different view of the situation. The condition of affairs has been realised, and a scheme is afoot to reduce production costs by way of a machinery grant. The proposal has been summarised by one of the Sydney newspapers which goes on to .sav that: Important recommendations for the rehabilitation of the gold-mining industry in Australia are made in the report just issued, of the Development and Migration Commission. Though the gold output fell from £14,600,000 in 1906 to £2,200,000 in 1926, the commission believes that the industry can be restored. Gold mining lias proved unprofitable because the cost of production has increased to such an enormous extent. These casts have made it necessary to mine ores of higher grade and gold mining has become a speculative gamble instead of a business. This is how the commission suggests the industry can he restored, (a) Establishment of a Commonwealth fund of £250,000 for relief from the effects of customs duties on machinery for new construction, (h) Making available the unexpended sum of approximately £36,000 for fumiishing special assistance and advice to the gold mining and other precious metals I Sndlustries, through the States, (c)

Calling a conference of the Taxation Commissioners to consider the incidence of taxation as applied to gold mining, (d) A conference of the Un-der-Secretaries of Mines and a . representative of the Commonwealth to review the present mining Jaws and regulations and make recommendations for greater uniformity where practicable. Other suggestions embrace a review of the effects of workmen’s compensation, legislation on the industry, consideration of the whole of the industrial conditions, and the encouragement of prospecting in every possible way. The Commission recommends that the Commonwealth grant of £250,000 he given only to permit gold mines to be equipped or re-equipped with plant at a lower capital cost. Lower grade ore may then he worked with I totter prospects of success. A cash payment should be made for now machinery' erected at mines. This grant would ho subject to the recommendation of the Tariff Board whether the machinery were imported or manufactured locally, and would be equivalent to the amount of the duty that would be payable if the machinery were imported. This will conserve tho interests of the Australian manufacturer, and at the same time assist the gold-mining industry. Present rates of wages are not regarded as excessive by the Commission when compared with these paid in other Australian Industries, but the Commission thinks plants should be operated as nearly as possible to 3t>9 days a year by arranging the shifts <ni a roster .system whereby no man will work more than tho statutory number of hours per week. The foregoing exposition of the subject might almost be repeated word for word to represent the position in New Zealand. The laws and regulations affecting mining certainly require liberalising. In the days of miners’ associations it was possible to keep more abreast of the times, but there is not now the moulding of public opinion there once was on this matter. It is possible, we understand, to achieve a good deal by casing up the regulations, and this aspect might well lie taken up by the public bodies. If the Mines Department could lie indiiced to probe the. position throughout New Zealand and glean something in an intimate way of the requirements o.f the industry , there would be at least, a beginning on the high road to the necessary reform to bring the industry back to prominence again. The gold mining industry was the chief means hv which the country' was settled and opened tip in the early days. A great debt of obligation is therefore due, and that could he repaid in a measure now by an earnest effort to liberalise regulations and make conditions for the oxpanson of the industry as tempting as possible so that private enterprise would again enter the field and open up fresh avenues of profitable employment. Such a course would be a ,great aid to local development, and in view of tho prosperity it would carry in its train, it is to he hoped a real mining revival is not a remote contingency, but something due for early achievement.