TRIBUTE SYSTEM.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 35, 16 November 1871, Page 3

TRIBUTE SYSTEM.

We extract the following from the Ballarat Courier , in the hope that it may interest miners on this field :

The City of Ballarat Company seems likly to commit, on a smaller scale, the cardinal error which brought the Great North West to such utter grief. Already the directors own to the possession of between 800 and 900 acres of new ground; nor do they disguise their intention of adding to this extensive territory. Under the most favourable circumstances, a twelvemonth must elapse before washdirt can be struck in either of the two runs which the chairman of directors is satisfied pass through the claim. Let us project ourselves somewhat into the future, and picture the works below, in full swing—two gutters, each say 150 feet wide, in course of being blocked out by a full mine force. How many years must elapse before the north-western, or whatever may prove to be the farthest boundary, could possibly be reached? In other words, when might we expect the to be worked out ? Certainly not during the lifetime of any of the present directors. We are, of course, presuming everything to go smoothly, and the mine to be all the while replete with remunerative washdirt. No account either is here taken of the reef washes, which may reasonably be expected to permeate the City of Ballarat holding at moderate distances apart. It is the reef washes which have' been latterly worked to 'the greatest advantage in the claims of the Band and Albion Consols, St. George, Park, and Hand and Band Companies, and it is to those that one naturally looks for much of the future alluvial prosperity of Ballarat. To exhaust 1,000 acres of gutter and reef washes would occupy a moderate lifetime. And as to doing it all from one shaft, the idea is simply ridiculous. Be it remembered that we neither doubt the energy nor the. ability of the directors and shareholders in the City of Ballarat Company to carry their present undertaking to a successful issue. But might it not be possible that untoward circumstances should arise, such as a drain of capital to other districts, poor washings in claims further back, stress of water in the shaft, and consequent greater expense iu sinking ? Anyone of such events, much more a combination of them might have the effect of putting a temporary stop to the works ; and temporary stoppages not unfrequently end in long stops. We have no wish to damp the ardour of the plucky reorganisers of the City of Ballarat Company. On the contrary, we wish them as brilliant a future as they themselves could desire. What we wish to point out is a belter method of utilising their fine property than the course they have determined upon adopting. Why not, in a word, let GOO acres iu three tributes, retaining the remainder for company's operations ? At 10 per cent, of the gross yield 30 per cent, would be returnable entirely free of expense to the original shareholders. Meantime their own yields would be ceming in regularly about the same time as those from the tributes. And there would be work iu all for many years to come. Nor Avould this be the sole advantage gained by portioning off the area in the manner wc have suggested. There would be less v f ater for each sinking party to contend with ; less danger when opened out of becoming “ bushed in the reef more openings for ventilation—no unimportant consideration; and above’all gold being obtained from four shafts at once —whereas if but one be sunk, the country outside the City of Ballarat claim is most unlikely to be worked during any definite period that can be named. As good citizens, therefore, as intelligent miners, and as men of business, we hold that the City of Ballarat Company will do well to adopt our suggestion or some modification of it. We have no doubt tribute companies could readily be organised to take, portions of the area. To continue holding it all is like hiding one’s talent in a napkin. 'Again, what is there to prevent shareholders iu the City from taking up shares iu the tribute companies, as is done every day at Bendigo? . ... Forthe tribute companies wo would further suggest an adaption of the old half share principle. Pay the miners for instance £1 10sper week, andgivethera the balance of the regular pay in scrip, the adoption of some such plan as this would conduce towards putting more heart into the work than a mere wages’ man might care to display. Each workman as he became a larger shareholder from week to week, would feci greater interest in the undertaking, and push on the mine with renewed vigor. Besides as the time for profitable returns grew closer his scrip would become more valuable, thereby giving him an opportunity of realising at a profit, if so disposed. The working scrip as they may be termed, would of course represent a paid-up interest, Thus: —A miner receiving £1 5s per week in cash, and £1 in scrip, would only become the proprietor of a share, the limit of which was £5, at the end of 5 weeks’ labor ; and so on as long as he continued to work in the mine. Contractors for sinking, driving, or other mine work would be abte to arrange with their employes in the same manner —paying them so much money, and so much in company s stock. The contributing shareholders would, in their turn, be relieved of much pecuniary responsibility ; for by far the most expensive item in mining is invariably labor. Should the number of working scrip become exhausted through unforeseen delays and difficulties, reorganisation, and consequent increase of capital, would cure that defect. In whichever way this question is regarded, there seems to be no hitch to prevent the satisfactory working of the method above suggested. It appears to us to be alike advantageous to capital and labor ; and also to possess an additional charm, in that what are too frequently antagonistic elements will be brought into perfect harmony the ono with the other. Be it, however, remembered that the working shareholders would have no more voice in the working of the mine than any ordinary shareholder, but remain subject to the mining manager’s exclusive control. He would, in fact, occupy no other position than a miner holding scrip in a limited company iu whose mine he is employed. At general and extraordinary meetings they would possess a voting power in proportion to their interests ; but in all other respects would be as sailors on board ship —amenable to the captain’s orders. We shall be glad to see the subject discussed in all its bearings, and to that end will willingly give insertion to any views expressed intelligently and with commendable brevity.