THE COAL FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 47, 16 December 1871, Page 3

THE COAL FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

[lndependent.]

If there was any portion of the publia works scheme that was pre-eminently acquiesced in by the Assembly by unanimous approval it was that relating to the development of the coal fields of the colony. And no wonder, considering the enormous amount of money which has been annually sent out of New Zealand for foreign importations of an article which the colony itself possesses in large abundance, and of a superior quality. It is amazing hou* the vast natural endowment which the coal fields of New Zealand constitute should have been allowed to remain dormant so long. For at least ten years the existence of extensive and rich coal fields has been known in the colony, and yet, year after year, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been expended by the people of New Zealand in the purchase from Australia of an article which lay in

abundance at their own doors. At last the Government of the colony have recognised this anomaly, and determined to appropriate a considerable sum to the purpose of making the most prominent coal fields accessible by railways. The want of easy and cheap transit for the coal has been the great stumbling block in the way of working the coal deposits profitably. At Kawa-kawa and at the Grey coal fields this want has had the effect of confining to a comparatively petty local traffic a trade which is capable of almost indefinite extension : but now that these valuable estates are to be connected by railway with the shipping ports, we may hope that before long the contributions of New Zealand to the industry of other colonies will be materially reduced. But we fear the Government is not going far enough, and that by its fearsomeness to grasp the question boldly and broadly, the benefits to be derived will not be so ample as they ought and might be. Take for instance the coal fields at the Grey River—which are probably the most extensive and valuable in the colony. The mine now being worked, and for the development of which the proposed railway from Greymouth is chiefly intended—although Crown land, and being within a gold field, really under the nominal authority of the Government, — is vested as a reserve in the Superintendent of Nelson, and is consequently under his control. The railway is to be made by the General Government out of colonial funds, but the Government itself appears to have no voice or authority in the disposal of the mine. We believe that the Superintendent of Nelson holds the opinion that it is not desirable to place the working of the mine in private hands,but that it should be continued by the Provincial Government, although any person of commercial knowledge or acquainted with the prevailing practice with respect to coalfield workings, must know that to ensure the fullest advantage both mine and railway should be under the same management. Why could not the Government insist as it ought to insist upon the supreme control of these matters, and not risk the success of its measures by a weak deference to the dignity of provincial authority. We happen to know that if the General Government were in a position to deal with the mine in question, the colony need not spend a single shilling in the construction of the railway, and that private capitalists would build it themselves if they could also obtain a lease of the coal mine. If ever the coal fields of New Zealand are to be really opened up and made a great source of national prosperity the Government of the colony must be in a position and avail itself of that position to deal liberally, and offer large inducements to private capital. The complications which must necessarily arise from such a condition of things as we have referred to, can only have the effect of deterring those who have the inclination and the means to do so from embarking their money, and,devoting their experience to operations, which if successfully carried out, would largely enhance the prosperity of the colony. In other countries, nearer England, the utmost facilities are afforded, in order to attract British capital and enterprise. In Russia, Turkey, Canada, Spain, and America, it has been recogthat the more profitable they can make

it for the capitalist who is willing to developethe dormant natural resources, the more profitable it is for the country itself. For the employment of capital especially if on a large scale—means the employment of labor, and the encouragement of every branch of industry. And, now-a-days, capitalists do not care about small things. Our coalfields, which appears to be of especial importance, are but small as compared with those of other countries, and the only way in which we could hope to develope them thoroughly is to offer them, on the most liberal terms possible, to those who have the menus of working them. We predict nothing short of failure if the working of the mines at the Grey is to be left in the hands of the Provincial Government. The General Government may exact what- J ever terms it may choose to insist upon : as regards the amount of coal to be produced, but the mere production of the coal is a comparatively minor matter. In order to create an extensive demand for coal the producers must not be content with "saying "here are so many thousand tons of coal ready for shipment;" they will have to create a trade, find markets, and enter thoroughly into competition with the foreign supplies. They may have to build ships or steamers, form depots, and do such other things as have had to be done and are done in other countries. Is it the function of a provincial or any other form of government to turn itself into a trading company in this way ? Decidedly not; and, what is more, no Government could do it. Matters of this kind must be left to the natural operation of commercial enterprise.