THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5326, 14 September 1928, Page 4

THE MINING INDUSTRY.

MIL SAMUEL'S BEPBESiENTATIONS 'MORE LIBERAL HELP WANTED. When the annual report on the mining Industry was before tlhe House of Representatives recently Mr, A. M. Samuel, member for Ohinemuri, advocated more liberal support for mining in New Zealand by the Go-vormne.iit-He sa'd :— “As the representative of one of the biggest gold-mining districts in New Zealand, and as the member who, is looking after the interests of another equally importa,n.t goldi-mining electorate, I intend to confine my remarks this afternoon principally to this industry. We do not know whether the report which is'before the Home forecasts increased assistance being given to gpldmiining, because, unfojt tunateily. ,we have ,n)o,t ha.d an opportunity ojf perusing it. Of course, I quite appreciate the position of the Minister of Mines and 1 the Government with respect to this matter ; I realise that of late, years nothing of a startling nature has occurred in the gold-mining areas to warrant any particularly large amounts being placed qnj the estimates, but I would ask the Government net to forget what goldmining has done for the Dominion in the past. In my opinion gold-mining was the origination of the prosperity of New Zealand, It enabled us to, launch out with ojur primary production to an extent that would ha.ve been impossible had we not .had tire assistance of this valuable industry. But for the value of the gold which has been won; in this country we would, to-day, be at least 20 years behind our primary production, a. compared with our present stage of development.

“We know that the Thames and Ohinemuri districts have produced millions of pounds worth of gold. 1 .think it would be safe to say that 'in the two districts gold to the value of at least £30,000,000 has been produced, and I. suggest that the possibilities of the future are as great a S: in the past. One regrettable feature in connection with gold-mining s that the old , prospector is passing away. In the old days when the prospector. with his almost un«ahny k-n,ow-ledge of the goldfields, used to g° out lie was almost certain to strike something. We have not the same class of miner, to-day but, in my opinion, they could be: brought back if adequate assistance was given. I would earne tly ask the Goverinmedit to help to revive that type c,f independent settler who used tn go out into the backblocks and prospect for himself. In the old days conditions were altogether different from those existing at the present time. Food and everything else were cheaper, and the conditions generally were easier, than they are to-day;” REVIVAL OF MINING. “We have, recently had in most of the quartz-minping districts of New Zealand that a revival of gold-mining is likely to take place. I would net suggest that there will be a mining boom ; that would be altogether unwelcome. We do not want anything in the nature of a mining boom, but we do want a revival of milling which would put the industry on a steady add' stolid basisThat would be qf permanenit value to the country whereas a boom would fizzle out after a Short 1 whilei, and although being responsible for a temporary period of prosperity would ultimately, bring ruin in its train. It only wa.nts a good find to reawaken public interest in goldmining in this country. If we have a rich strike the public will regain confidence in mining and will invert their, money in this industry. qnd the. resultant prosperity will be of materia] advantage to the. Dominion. “I would ask the Government to place- a much larger sum of money o.n the Estimates for the assistance of mining. A‘ : I said before, I do not know whether this is forecasted in the Statement, but 1 sincerely trust it is, and if it is, not there I would suggest to the' Government that it would be economically sound to take part Ojf the unemployment Vote; and allocate it to- mining. If a sum from this vote, wer.e used for the assistance of making it would serve the same purpose in finding employment for men- who -may bring about a revival of the mining industry which wcjuld solve the whole of the unemployment problem in New Zealand.” GRANTS TO PROSPECTORS. “The granting of assistance to prospectors and small pa.rtieS is of the utmost importance. It should help them not only to find payable ore but to develop the deposits when once they are found. It is useless for a prospector qr a' small party .to make a strike, and find ore if there are no means of .the value of the ore, and therein lies the necessity for the. provision of. crushing facilities. In the Ohinemuri and Thames districts there, are vast areas which still have great mining potentialities, and there qre m any men ready to work thes'e areas if they can be assured cjf being able to prove their ore once, they have won it. These men are willing to. g;o out, and their wives and families are willing to accomnany them. ENCOURAGING PROSP'ECTfORS. “Another matter for consideration is the encouragement of tine prospector working dn difficult ground. A s the Minister of Mines and. the Undersecretary are aware, some: ; grounds are much easier to work than others, and certain; subsidies are paid, in the cases where the ground is d ifficult. I would like to suggest that where there is hard driving, power should be given to the mining inspee ‘tor to recommend a subsidy greater tl han 8s 8d a foot, which is the amnun t now allowed tq prospectors working difficult ground. Not only do I su '.ggest that there should be an increase; 1 subsidy where the work is slow and 1 abor.ic,us, but J think .that in such ; cases the Government should assist the prospector by supplying free of charge the explosives required. Vf s Imre

the ground is not quite so hard a subsidy might be granted to enable the miner to purchase his explosives. "We know that the advent of the. war had a detrimental effect oil fields that had produced millions of pounds’ worth of gC;ld. I am referring particularly to those of Karangahake, and I would suggest that any assistance which may be given would give, to those fresh fields a new lease ,of activity. It would certainly give the miners an impetus to reopen the whole of these field:, and for all we know tq the contrary there may be millions of pounds’ worth cf gold lyinjg at the end of the pick, because, a,s every miner, knows, one can never be sure what there is at the end oi a pick until it enters the ground. and, witli a Little assistance', the. gold may be uncovered. Hon. Downie Stewart: Cannot the hon. member get private capital if the prospects are good ? There are always people willing to in,vest in profitable undertakings. Mr Samuel: “Yes, tha.t is so, aidl tlie hon. gentleman has helped me out considerably. The men will have no difficulty in getting, finance if they can uncover the gold. I am asking for assistance to enable the gold to bo tin,covered so that we can get that finance, and, as the Minister of Finance has put tlie matter ini the way he ha‘, I am certain tha.t when the question comes to be considered by Cabinet we shall have his wholehearted support, and I feel eonii'lent I hat I may tell the miners tha.t the Minister of Finance agrees that I am right in urging, that a'aistancc should be given to- the industry. I knlow the Prime Minister Is sympathetic and that he recognises the importance of the industry, and I would like the Government to. seriously consider whether it is nqt possible to, afford immediate.' relief. “I remember when the present Minister of Mines (who i® out of Now Zealand at present) made a trip to Karangahake a proposition was made for. the erection of a cru'shing battery at a; cost ojf £7'500, and the ■upkeep of the battery would be from £l2OO to £l5OO a year, and the Minister was sympathetic to the proposition, provided that certain information was given. That wojiikl have e;i,tailedi a very big outlay on the part of the Government, and a. large- ani’Jua.l cost. But the proposition which has now been ma.de through the effort': of the committee which has worked so hard in the interests cf the industry will cost less than half the amojunt previously suggested, and there wquld be no anqual charge -fcjr maintenance.

OTHER -METALS IN DISTRICT. “A point 1 wish to draw attention to the. fact that in thio district there are other metals besides gold and silver.: we have lead and zinc. I understand that very extensive fields of the latter have beien discovered in the Thames district. 1 mention, these things because I am looking after the. interests of the Thames district during, the absence. fr.om Ne.w Zealand o.f the member for Thames, I am sure he wquld desire me to bring this matter under the notice df the Minister. I have been written to on this subject, an,d I have promised to mention it. There is not the slightest doubt that these metals are intensely in; existence in this area, and those interested have not asked for .any assistance, with the exception, I believe, of reading facilities. These metals are of great commercial value, net only in New Zealand but also in other parts qf the world, and I understand that the deposit are; sufficient! to provide for the needs of the Dominion and for export tra.de as wall. All I ask in this connection is that the Government render any asssifitance it possibly can in the working of these deposits, and that the whole of the industry be looked upon as one essential primary industry .that must be fostered so that it may be revived and have a new lease of I’fe.”