A MINISTER OF MINES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 13 July 1880, Page 3

A MINISTER OF MINES.

(by telegraph.) (FROM OCR OWS CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, July 12. A deputation consisting of the memhers of the House representing goldfields. including the members for Waitaki, waited on the Premier to-day in compliance with an invitation from that gentleman. The members present were --Messrs- Masters, Hirst, Reeves, J. B. Fisher, Finn, Jcnes, J. C. Brown, Sed<jon, Shrimski, Ireland, de Laatour, Reid, Harris, Shephard, and Tainni. Mr. Brown having mentioned that the deputation had accepted the Premier's invitation, and vronld be glad to hear what he bad to say, The Premier said he had written a letter to the gentlemen who had signed the resolution, but he had afterwards thought that it would be better to meet them. Mr. Reeves said the goldfields members favored the appointment of a Minister of Mine 3. The mining interest had been neglected in this Colony, and the effect had been to create unemployed. There -were no unemployed on the goldfields. Mr. Brown did not think it necessary •that the administration of the mining interest should be in the hands of a Minister holding a single portfolio. The Minuter of Mines might be amalgamated ■with that of Minister of Lands. The mining industry was neglected. Mining and agriculture went hand-in-hand. Wherever facilities were offered, the miners turned their attention to agriculture- . . , Mr. Shrimski said that it appeared to him that the Government did not desire to open up the goldfields. A portion of the district he represented was capable, according to Professor TTlrich, of sustaining thousands of families ; but no facilities were afforded for such development, because it would interfere with the agricultural interests, of which the Government were so careful. Mr. .Finn said the present Government •were not solely responsible for the neglect pointed to by the previous speakers. He explained, the difficulties under which the miners in his district suffered through not having a road from Macetown to Arrowtown, which would cost only about L3OOO. Were this road made he knew for a fact that a large number of miners with capital would come from Victoria next spring and engage in the development of this important field, the average yield from which had been nearly 4oz. to the ton. Mr. Reeves spoke in the same strain. Mr. Seddon said he believed it had heen intended by the Government to give a pound for pound subsidy on the whole amount expended by mining associations, hat this course had not been followed. The Premier admitted that the mining interest had not hitherto received its fair jhare of attention. Towards the end of last session a Bill was introduced for the appointment of an eighth Minister, to whom it was intended to allot the portfolio of Mines amongst others, bnt the idea was. abandoned because of the strong feeling in the House against it. Ministers could not govern from one centre, and were compelled to visit all parts of the Colony, which occupied a considerable amount of time. That was why he thought it desirable to have an eighth Minister. Mr. Oliver had been given the portfolio of Minister of Mines because he understood and knew something of mining. He (Mr. Hall) was aware that the present system was unsatisfactory. An increase of the number of Ministers was out of the question, but they purposed to effect a rearrangement of portfolios on the rising of Parliament. The Government would do their utmost to carry oat the views of the deputation. Mr. Fisher drew attencion to the fact that local revenue upon goldfields was devoted to maintaining main roads. The interests of the Colony demanded that the revenue of local bodies upon goldfields should be left as far as possible to be devoted to the opening up of new tracts. After a little further discussion, the deputation thanked the Premier and withdrew.