CONSISTENCY EXEMPLIFIED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 270, 3 April 1873, Page 7

CONSISTENCY EXEMPLIFIED.

Extracts from report of proceedings of the recent Mining Conference. Fbiday, Dec. 6, Saturday, Dec. 7. Mr. Crombie moved, The question of the that this Conference appointment of a Minconsider the advisa- ister of mines by the bility of the General General Government Government handing was now brought forover to the provinces ward, their full share of the Mr. Alexander mov£B3o,ooo, for goldfields eJ : That the advantage water supply purposes, likely to accrue to the He thought that if golilfields by the apmoney were vested in pointment of a Minister the Superintendent, it of Alines for the colony, could be got without and the taking of the so much circumlocu- management of the tion as was at present whole of the goldfields required. In speaking into the hands of the of his own district, lie General Government, could see that a large be considered by the amount of money various local mining would be wanted in the associations throughcourse of time for out the province, sludge channels and and reported to the other purposes. Secretary of the Mr. Allan seconded Otago Miners Associathe motion, and it was tion, for transmission carried. to the General Government, within 3 months from date. Mr. Ferris seconded the motion, which was carried. (To the Editor of tlie " Cromwell Argus.") Sib, — In your last issue, under the heading of "Consistency Exemplified," the two motions which jou place side by side, as reported to have been carried by the Mining: Conference, may bear explaining. Before commencing, let me first thank you for making it necessary to do so, and state that I am glad to see you have perused the report of proceedings more carefully that when you wrote the leading article on the report. The paragraph under the heading " Mining Boards." was a deal more conspicuous than these motions being both carried; yet you failed to see it, and wrote there was no mention of such. In giving this explanation, I do not do it on account of myself, as it may be that Mr. Crombie and I hold different views regarding Provincial and General Government administrations, and that each should be anxious to carry measures according to their views ; nor is it the manner you have drawn public attention to it, that induced me to lift my pen, for it is evident that it is not an explanation that is desired, but rather a desire to hold up the proceedings to ridicule, and as such deserves to be treated with contempt ; but it is in justice' to the other members of the Conference, which is made to appear to have read so as to carry both motions, that I give the explanation, which is very simple. On Mr. Crombie's motion a discussion ensued, a considerable portion of the members, as well as myself, were opposed, and the error lies in Mr. Crombie's motion being reported to be carried, which was not the case, it being withdrawn, and the following motion carried in its stead, which reads :—": — " Mr. Alexander moved, and Mr. Morrison seconded, that this Conference requests the Government to place at the disposal^of the Miners' Association, the survey staff free of charge, for the purpose of ascertaining the practibility of such i water supply schemes, as they may deem practicable ; and further, that this Conference considers that the present rules under which subsidies can e(Jbsv' be obtained are too stringent, and should be made more elastic, so as to embrace private parties, and that the subsidy instead of being £1 to £2K2 X

should be £1 to £1." Ido not wish to call in a volume of correspondence on the subject by asking all the members of the Conference to verify the explanation, given, but if any disputes it, I trust they will publicly do so. In justice to the reporter, I may state that the discussion was somewhat irregular, or took more the form of a conversation, which may have pro-, duced the mistake, — I am, sir, yours, &c, J. Alexander.