The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6. MINERAL WEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 232, 6 February 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6. MINERAL WEALTH.

Agriculture is and always must be tin; sheet-anclior of New Zealand, for all the mineral wealth of the world is useless if the world has not sufficient food. But although agriculture plays infinitely the larger part in making for the progress of New Zealand, the mineral wealth of the country is a marvellous asset. The deliberations of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers in Auckland is an event which calls attention to the vast importance of an industry that, it is claimed, is still in long clothes, so to speak. When it is shown that Australasia up to date has produced gold valued at about six hundred million pounds sterling, it is seen how exceedingly important a part the mining engineer plays in national schemes. Altogether Australasia produces minerals every year worth about twenty million pounds sterling, and all the evidence is in favor of huge increases, for, as in both Australia and New Zealand, the surface of the earth has been merely tickled, so have the possible storehouses of wealth underground been but sparingly exploited. .The recent huge finds in Australia demonstrate the miner's old contention that "there is as much gold in the earth as ever came out of it." As the years go by man specialises to a greater extent than formerly, and there is nothing nowadays haphazard about the methods employed for locating the hidden treasures of the earth. Science probes the

geological mysteries, and the unremitting toil of the geologist and mining engineer is shown in the wonderful, returns that all States of the Commonwealth and this Dominion show. The one fact that New Zealand produces every year about two million tons of coal, and that development is proceeding rapidly, is one that might make even the most incurable pessimist optimistic. New Zealand is necessarily undeveloped beeause she is youthful, but there is a splendid restlessness in regard to many possibilities, and in no branch of industry is the help of the Government given so willingly as to mining. It procured the services of one of the most eminent geologists in the Empire, and during Dr. Bell's tenure of his highly important office he has performed incalculable services. It is sincerely hoped that an equally eminent successor may be found to replace him, for there is noble work before any geologist who loves research in a country that offers such a great field for scientific endeavor. At the moment, when so much attention is being turned to the possibilities of undiscovered mineral wealth, it seems essential that the brightest leaders should be secured. It is not known definitely how large a place Taranaki may gain as a producer of mineral wealth, but it has been demonstrated already that there is a great future for the oil industry, if it is assisted by the necessary cash. With the steady development of the country the magnificent ironsand deposits must be of incalculable value both to Taranaki and to New Zealand. If a youthful country produces so handsome a return from its undeveloped mineral resources, it is clear that in the future, by the aid of geological and engineering science and the assistance of a larger population, the mineral wealth will be vastly added to. There is no danger that added concentration-on mining of all kinds will affect agriculture deleteriously, but there is a prospect that the two industries which are interdependent will greatly assist each other. Aids to prospecting, cash assistance, the higher scientific education of mining engineers, the untiring diligence of geologists and the support of the public are the foundations on which increased mining output must be built. Public enthusiasm in mining enterprises, whether the mining is for oil, gold, coal or any other mineral wealth, should be sedulously cultivated by those who are able to speak with authority on the subject. It is shown, of course, that New Zealand is particularly rich in iron ores, but that she obtains her supplies of iron from overseas. Local enthusiasm, local faith in the future, local enterprise and local cash would make New Zealand independent in this matter. It seems to be necessary in a country which has so great a wealth of minerals that the people in whose country they are mined should possess them. It has often occurred in colonial mining enterprises that local caution in the matter of investment has been a very good thing for the foreign capitalist, even when the requisite capital for development might easily have been found. In short, New Zealanders, who are promised so great a future in the mining industry, might be well advised to hold, own and control it themselves. Foreign capital is better than no capital at all, but local capital for local enterprise gives a much better insurance for general prosperity. With the gradual settling of the land, industries allied to the most important one must receive cash encouragement. The mining engineer who has been schooled in New Zealand is welcomed all over the earth wherever there is a hole in it dug for the winning of minerals, and with the necessary expansion of the industry in this country New Zealand can be scientifically served to greater advantage than almost any other country on earth.

CURRENT TOPICS A DEFEATED SLANDER. It has been necessary to decide by judicial verdict that King Ceorge is not a bigamist. The amazing slander which lias been such a Ixiom to the tattlers of many nations since the youth of our present King serves to illustrate the point that the higher the place of an alleged sinner, the more enjoyable—to the tattler —is the sin. Since the slander was loosed, it has been gorgeously varied. Quite a number of admirals at one time commandin? in the Mediterranean have been credited with being tin-fathers-in-law of the present King.' One admiral is supposed to have run his flagship to its doom because Prince George was his son-in-law. Delicious ' circumstantial details hare been bandied

about throughout the Dominion, until Ui<! average subject of the King—who was not in Malta when the alleged marriage was supposed to have taken place —felt himself justified in believing there was something in the story. Such believers suggested, of course, that the Prince was a hard-lieartell wife deserter, thoy inferred "criminal disregard of law and decency. There were princely precedents for such crimes, and so scandalmongers might presume that what one prince had done another might do. The tattlers tattled and enjoyed it, but as neither the tattlers nor the victim met serious opposition, presumably some of them became disappointed. At least one put his accusation on paper, and even though the King was the attacked party justice at last was done and the slander settled once for all by those most competent to atfcend its funeral. As it is, the section of the public which believed a base falsehood for many years will now be convinced of its blackness. The late King Edward while Prince of Wales gave evidence in a court of law. It is | unnecessary to revive the scandal with which royalty was then associated, but it occurs to the loyalist that the late slander would have received even a heavier blow had it been constitutionally possible for a King as well as a Crown Prince to give evidence. King George, it is cabled, desired to be called, ana this desire of his will be accepted as the best evidence that he had nothing to fear from public examination. The -vindication of the character of King George could not be more complete. We must I believe now that this incident is closed, that the King has always lived and still lives the life of an honorable gentleman. FOOLISH MEN!

According to a gentleman who has been interviewed by the Wellington Evening Post, Wisconsin, U.S.A., has been dubbed "The New Zealand of America." It is alleged that it glories in this unique distinction mainly because it is lond of experimental legislation, and has recently (so it is cabled) added to its nine hundred volumes of statutes a bulky Act prohibiting hobdle skirts, but permitting Indies to wear a bifurcated garment approximating to that which is so charming a feature of some ladies' costumes in Turkey. If we believed that Wisconsin did anything so stupid as to interfere with the fashionable fads of its women, it would be reasonable to assume that the Wisconsin legislator was, equally with the law —"a bass." For fashions fade almost as soon as they are at the height of their idiocy, and "creators" of feminine adornment are probably already puzzling their heads io inflict new torture on women and to gather in the wealth the clothes inventor can always command. If legislators intend interfering with the personal inclinations of folk, it is but a short time before the T. E. Taylors of society will knock off preaching to women on the subject of washing babies and will demand that men shall not wear tight collars and violet ties, pointed-toed boots or fancy socks. Men do most of the laughing at the supposed absurdities of female fashions, but there is little reason for laughter —when the bill comes in. And if a man is as gallant as he supposes himself to be, he must have more pity than blame for the hobbled woman, who will suffer any inconvenience and will cheerfully spoil her beauty in order to be "up-to-date." After all, modern fashions merely demonstrate the fact that folk do not differ throughout the. centuries in a desire to decorate nature. The same instinct prompting a mouern society woman to hobble herself or to wear a "'pneumonia" blouse is the same instinct that prompts the black belle to wear a necklace of shark teeth, or tight brass bracelets round the upper arm. It is the same instinct that makes a Red Indian wear feathers and fringed mocassins, the kaffir a gum ring, tiger skin kaross and leg ornaments. It is the same instinct that makes a blackfellow beautify his unbeautiful chest with a sharp stone and weave pieces of fat in his hair. We are no more foolish than we used to be, and women don't wear crinolines any more, and even prunella boots have disappeared. The instinct for adornment is in recognition of our physical imperfections. An ear is a much prettier article than an ear-ring, but the latter calls attention to the former, just as a flashing ring on a nice white hand is useful in attracting attention to the whiteness. One would have liked to know what happened to the legislators of. Wisconsin when they returned home to their wives after the passage of the hobble legislation, and told them they might wear "trouserettes," Poor legislators' MEDICAL INSPECTION.

The success of any nation depends upon I the physical qualifications of its citizens. The ranks of the citizens are recruited from the children of the nation. The children of the nation constitute its greatest and most valuable asset. Any national administration that could ensure normal health in all the children of the community could ensure untroubled progress and positive and permanent greatness. Most countries nowadays have come to the conclusion that for the making of a nation the State must interest itself in the cradled child. Science has determined that it is possible under wise national rules and with the united help of the people to eradicate many of the physical plagues that perplex humanity and cause death. In New Zealand, where the internal increase of human beings i.s disproportionate to the r.aeds of tiie case, it is now recognised that the duly of the State is to be found equally in the springtime of life as at its autumn. The average parent is not aware of the possible physical defects of his children, and it is reasonable, since children are the Slate's most valuable asset, that the State should do its utmost to see that the "quality is right." No better | chance fnr careful observation is given to the State than in the passing of children in schools. To illustrate the enormous extent of physical imperfection in school children it is only necessary to mention that in one Tasmanian school examined by competent medical men 48 per cent, of the children were suffering from some malady not previously I observed by parents, the majority of I the defects were classed as "post-nasal" —that is to say, that most of the imperfect children were being retarded in mental and physical growth by adenoids. Eye defects (which may seriously handicap a child who becomes an adult) were found in very many cases, and it is common knowledge that but few modern children are dentally sound. Is it worth 1 while to extend the benefits of complete and organised medical inspection to all New Zealand schools? It was stated in our telegrams on Saturday that the Government will in the near future undertake this extremely important work. No one will question the assertion that in the majority «f cases where defects are found in school children thev may be removed by simple treatment. Every defeet that is eradicated means added usefulness to the nation. Tf the enthusiastic aid of parents supplements the intended work of the authorities, medical inspection of New Zealand schools will confer a boon the value of which it is Impossible to over-estimate.