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Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1928, Page 4

A contributor on Saturday supplied some notes on mining. Mining is a subject which should he always of interest to a district such as Westland, highly mineralised as it is. Iho time for some practical attention to the interests of gold mining in particular, is well overdue. The changing political scene mav have some beneficial effect to that end. The departmental •ontrol of the industry has been very haphazard of late years, due first to the indifference of both Massey and Coates Governments to the practical interests of mining, and in the second instance to the lack of interest and ■nthusiasm on the part of the controlling Minister to the latent possibilities of an active mining policy to assist in promoting and further developing Lite industry in a nntimin. way. Added to this loss of interest, there was the illness of the Minister, and in his extended absence, there was only a nominal head to the depaitmoiit, with the result that mining matters received less attention than ever. With the changes now promising we may hope for the swing of the pendulum in another direction, and that there will he a -fresh interest m regard to helping the industry to ievive. It is clear there will he a new Minister or Mines, and under other circumstances on Wednesday last. Westland might have had a more direct say in the portfolio than will now he possible. However, a change lias to he made, and it must surely ho for the better—it cannot he worse. With a change it should lie an opportune time to seek for a revival in the gold mining industry bv the production of a fostering policy to help meet the situation. In Australia, as Mi «„(hlon showed in the course of some of his election addresses lately, tlioie were steps being taken which would he of help. In Australia it is recognised that despite the increases prices for other commodities due to the exceptional circumstances of the war and its aftermath, the price of gold is at a standard value, oven though it is costing more to produce. But the policy in Australia is to give tariff relief whereby plant and material is reduced in cost to the undertaking. and the industry is helped m that way. This, of course, is a material help, as overhead costs for plant and replacement would he very higt otherwise. There is also more practical help for prospecting, and a scheme lor assistance in regard to development. New Zealand might well pattern by the same line c.if policy and add to it by reason of local circumstances. It would indeed he well for districts such as this, where mining has future possibilities, to review the matter and suggest action and schemes for Government help to assist in bringing about a revival. The luiuoral store of wealth in Westland justifies the action.