CO-OPERRATION IN GOLDMINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 9

CO-OPERRATION IN GOLDMINING.

A correspondent in the North Otago Times of a recent date, under this heading, says :—: — The general interests of the New Zealand mining community are relatively of a n^utual character. The construction of water races, preservation of water by means of reservoirs, prospecting, and the working of auriferous drifts and reefs, are "all and singular" the chief matters which concern them in all parts of the Colony. It would be obviously unfair to say that the Government has not cooperated with the New Zealand miners, as the following condensed report taken from the Public Works Statement for 1879 testifieß. In the Westland district the General Government are connected with nine water races ; L 30,000 has been spent in subsidising the companies that have brought the races in; and L 20.000 has heen appropriated fora contemplated race of 47 statute heac'e. Of these the Nelson Creek water race, of GO statute heads, and the Waimea of 40 heads, employ daily throughout the year 687 men, and yield to each an income of £145. The number of ounceß of gold obtained through the operation of the first is 4400, while the second has yielded 21,400. It is a matter of congratulation to the mining community of the Colony that the General Government should be thus far iuclined to become the capital-lender to this industry, and that it fiiids _in the aggregate certain collateral, if not direct, advantages, which arise out of the duty, and the savings of the mining labourer, who eventually becomes the possessor of a part of the landed estate of the Colony. Added to this, there is a direct consumption of commodities, which means extension of trade, and the addition of a considerable sum to the revenue. Bat, on the whole, it is evident to the reflective mind that the assistance of Government to mining enterprise in this direction is fraught with no little danger to public money, because the securities are not in all cases sufficiently reliable. This is owing to the speculative nature of the enter* priße, which may or may not turn out of a remunerative character. To place the mining community in a practical position, to look successfully for Government cs-operation, it is necessary for the miners themselves to co operate, not in a brrken and scattered manner, but as a whole. To do this means the formation of a New Zealand Co-operative Mining Association, whose objects may be briefly stated as the development of special mining interests,

suoh as those referred to above. It would nob be a matter of impossibility to raise an associated capital of half a million sterling, provided that the miners could be got to have confidence in each other ; and there is no doubt that they see as readily as outsiders, that in this movement lies the greatest security to their interests, which is known to be of a practical nature. Highly auriferous areas, such as the Maerewhenua, would then come under general notice, and form an object of special interest to the Association, because it would demonstrate a means by which their capital could be profitably expended, and the industry be turned towards providing another source of enduring provision for labour, as well as foir profit for capital ; as it is » well-known fact that these goldfields only require a permanent supply <■£ water to make them moflt remunerative, and capable of carrying a considerable population for years to come. It is needless to point out the numberless ways in which associated mining capital could be turned to account, but not the least of these will be found in the fact that it would afford to them that security which would enable Government to supplement their efforts by lending them national capital.