Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1872. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 230, 27 June 1872, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1872. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The nomination of candidates for the ma3 r oralty of Lawrence will take place on the loth prox., and the poll, if necessary, on the 21st prox. Mr. Horace Bastings, who has ably filled the civic chair since

the establishment of the municipality, will not, on this occasion, seek re-election ; so the contest will lie entirely between new men. No candidates have as yet publicly announced themselves, but indications are not wanting that, at the nomination day, there Avill be no lack of aspirants for the office. The honour of being mayor of a town is generally regarded as the reward for long and faithful services in the Municipal Council, and, to a certain extent we' coincide with that view. But there are other considerations which ought to influenoe the ratepayers in the choice of their chief magistrate. The holder of that office ought to be a man of worth, social position, and possess abilit} r in the conduct of public business. It would be far better to elect a man possessing these qualifications, who had not served in the Council at all, than to elevate to the position one lacking any of them, although he might have been a useful councillor for a long period. We do not apprehend that the electors will experience any difficulty in finding a gentleman possessing the qualifications enumerated. Their chief difficulty will be in selecting the best from among several eligible candidates. We trust that in the election all minor considerations and private pique will be laid aside, and that the merits of the various candidates who may present themselves will be weighed carefully and impartially. The question is entirely one of the personal fitness of the candidates, and it behoves the ratepayers to elect the one best capable of filling the office in a manner creditable to himself aud the town of Lawrence.

As our readers are aware, the Government proposes to introduce during the next Assembly a new mining bill. For this purpose information has been collected from all available sources, and the suggestions of gentlemen whose mining experience renders their opinions valuable invited. Out of the mass of recommendations, reports, and miscellaneous information gathered together by those to whom the task of constructing the measure has been entrusted, it is to be hoped that a really good and workable Goldfields Act will be evolved. A reform in the laws affecting the gpld#elds is urgently needed. The present Act is' productive pf great dissatisfaction

imong the mining population. It is too cumbrous ; many of its pro- . visions, however good they might have been in a past epoch, are entirely inapplicable to the preseut condition of the gold mining indusbry. Miners are vexatiously hampered in their operations and frequently are caused great trouble and expense 'by it, which would 1)6 unnecessary were a law adapted to their requirements in force. Under the present system the miner can scarcely do a single thing in connexion with his operations — can scarcely move out of his house or breathe without obtaining permission from the warden. In fact the mining community are treated as children of tender years, incapable of taking care of themselves. This is an altogether erroneous idea, and the sooner those who make the laws get rid of it the better for all concerned. The miners, as a rule, are as intelligent as men engaged in other pursuits, and perfectly competent to judge for themselves between right and wrong. They do not require anybody to guide them — they are well able to look after their own interests. They only want to be let alone — to be allowed to carry on their operations without this ter-^| rible red tapeism with which they are enmeshed. To let them alone thoroughly should be the end and aim of mining legislation, and until they are let alone, discontent and dissatisfaction will prevail, Man^J. objections will be raised toasystei^^ of thorough reform, and many diw^ ficulties will be conjured up by\^ those accustomed- to the present groove. But this is only what may be expected. All reforms havo had similar obstacles to overcome. In this instance no one acquainted with the subject after giving it duo consideration can arrive at any other conclusion than that the time is ripe for remodelling the laws relating to the goldfields— for removing from the path of the miner those numerous and irritating red tape obstructions which' are now so thickly strewn upon it. In our next issue we shall indicate some changes which we think highly desirable to make.