MINING BOARDS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 640, 2 April 1870, Page 2

MINING BOARDS.

(To the Editor of tlte Westport Times.)

Sir, —Perhaps it may be a little inconsistent for me to offer a few remarks on Mining Boards, who have never had_ any personal experience of theirworking, but since they are brought so prominently before us by the Press, and opinions expressed therein differing so materially, it behoves every individual in this district to give the subject his earnest consideration. An article quoted from the Victorian papers asserts that miners would willingly do away with Mining Boards in

Victoria. Another article from the Auckland papers looks upon Mining Boards as the most suitable thing for that district, and expects great results from one recently established there. At first sight these two articles seem contradictory, but on after consideration, even supposing them both to be authentic, there is not much to wonder at. The time may have arrived in the experience of Victoria when Mining Boards are no longer required. If mining affairs in Victoria have assumed all the various modes of operations that they are likely to assume, and if all these different phases have been legislated for by experienced miners, and had time to amend these rules after they saw the working of them, it is but reasonable to suppose that they must be as near the mark as need be ere this. And it is also as reasonable to suppose that if the same body of men continue to meet for the purpose of amending that which is already as perfect as practical knowledge and the experience of the working of it can make it, any alterations can scarcely be for the better, and even if such alterations are not for the worse, they will still cause annoyance if no real benefit can be shown, and, perhaps, from the sound information supplied by Mining Boards of long experience it may be possible to form a general act for the Victorias Goldfields. But very little comparison can be drawn between the present state of the West Coast and Victoria. Miuing operations have been continually changiDg, and still continue to change on the West Coast, and, in fact, some of them are not recognised in our bylaws at all. Some miners are loud in proclaiming the faults of Mining Boards in Victoria, and seem to forget that the knowledge of these faults would be as useful to a Mining Board here as a thorough appreciation of its benefits. We should have a far superior chance of having an efficient Mining Board here than in Victoria, as we have amongst as all their experience with something considerable added. Miners who doubt the worth of Mining Boards, without being prepared to show another remedy for the many existing evils on the Coast, go far to support the expressed opinion of our Superintendent, that we are a set of wayfarers, unfit to look after ourselves. If we, as miners, cannot better ourselves by Mining Boards, there is no other organisation available for us. But if any more experienced miner can be more explicit on the subject let him, as I am only A New Chum.