THE PROPOSED CHAMBER OF MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 195, 16 August 1895, Page 3

THE PROPOSED CHAMBER OF MINES.

A COMMITTEE FORMED,

_ A very largely attended and representative meeting of gentlemen interested in the mining industry was held in the large room at the Exchange Buildings, for the purpose of considering the formation of an Auckland Chamber of Mines. Mr Seymour Thorne George was voted to the chair. Amongst those also present were::—Col. Burton, Messrs J. M. Dargaville, Graves Aickin, A. Kidd, J. Russell, T. Morrin, R. Rose, J. Chambers, G. S. Kissling, H. Gilfillan, jr., A. Wright, A. Nathan, C. C. McMillan, Jas. Russell, YV. Gorrie, H. Gorrie, M. Clarke, Davis, T. J. Steole, J. Dickey, Dixon. Vines, W. Ledingham, R. Sprabb, Bloomfield, J. R. Gray, A. C. Macky, Waymouth, W. S. Wilson, A. G. Horton and a number of others.

The Chairman said they knew the reason why they had met there that afternoon. He had called the meeting and he merely proposed giving his reasons for doing so. During the last few months several persons had been talking to him over the matter of th 6 formation of a Chamber of Mines here, and he bad ab last been asked to take the matter in hand. He had greab difficulty in getting an opinion as to what was bhe best means to take to do it. Several gentlemen who had been out hero recently and who had a high opinion of the mining industry in thia districb, also pressed upon him bhe desirabiliby of having a Chamber of bhis kind. The objects of the Chntnber had been ably seb forth in the Stak and " Herald," bub he would indicate what would bo the primary objects of a Chamber of this kind. The objects were : ,;

1. To promote and proteob the mining interests and industries of the colony, and in particular the mining interests and industries of che Auckland goldtields. 2. To consider all questions connected with bhe mining industry.

3. To promote legislative and other measures aiiecling such industry. While upon this object, he might state they were constantly wanting alterations made in their mining laws. Tbe present system by which the Government obtained an expression of opinion aa to the need for such alterations was very unsatisfactory. Some individual or particular company wrote to the Government giving his or its parbicular view. He himself had had several communications with bhe Government) regarding alterations in the mining law. Well, some of bhe alterations he wanted done for his company might be repugnant to some other mining companies, bub if this Chamber of Mines were in existence, the Government would ab once reporb the matter back to the Chamber, and thus secure an opinion from a body representing all interested in mining, as to whether the alteration should take place.

■4. To collect and circulate statistics and other measures affecting such industry. At present, if they wanted to find out anything aboub any mining company being floated or already floated, they had to ask a man in the street, and he, perhaps, told them the very opposite to what another did. Whereas, with a Chamber of Mines, atl necessary records «"nuld be kept, and could be ab once referred bo. ■

5. To communicate with and exchange information upon mining matters with Chambers of Mines or Government Departments of Mipes in this and other countries.

6. To procure information as to mines, mining companies, and all matters relating thereto.

These, Baid Mr George, would be bhe primary objects of a chamber of bhis kind. There were also very many other objects which ib would be proper for the Chamber to take up afberwards. For instance, they could act aa arbitrators in all mining disputes. They might eventually, too, have a mining experb connected with the Chamber. If they had a really good mining experb, when any companies were floated, no reporb would have such weight as thab from a man who was a servanb of the Chamber of Mines. Bub, of course, the main difficulty was to finance an institution of this kind. Ib was .difficult to say exactly what would be the aggregate expense of carrying on the Chamber. He reckoned thab they would require at least £500 a year to start with, and the question was how was this to be raised. With the presenb mining boom, and the future outlook of the mining industry being so favourable, there should not be the elighteso difficulty in reason in raising this amount, or even a greater amount if required. He would suggest that the Chamber consist of members who paid an annual subscription. They should have no difficulty in getting 150 members who would be willing to pay £1 Is a year. Then companies should have a levy made upon them in proportion, he thought, to their capital. The Witwatersrand Chamber consisted of delegates appointed by the different mining companies. They had three subscriptions, £50, £100, and £150, the last being the limit. For each £50 subscription paid to the Chamber, each mining company had the right to appoiub one delegate. Thab body formed bhe Chamber of Mines. Of course, they had to crawl before they could walk, and ib was unreasonable to ask companies here to pay such large sums as those. But he had nob the slightest doubt thab even the smallest company would be prepared to contribute a couple of guineas a year, and tbe rest of the companies on a sliding ecale according to their capital. Another matter, and one upon which tho whole future of the Chamber would depend, would be to get a suitable man to act as secretary. He had no one to suggest, and he did not know where a suitable man was to be got. The secretary would have to bo a " live " man, and one who could give the whole of his time to the work. At a later Btage, boo, a library could be established containing all the best works on mining, and of course the annual reporb of all statistics collected during the year. Mr George said, in conclusion, the advisability of having such a Chamber, no one would dispute for a moment. The only questions were wbab was the beat process to adopt for the constitution of the Chamber, and what was the best way of raising the funds neceaeary to carry it on. Ho would move: " That in the opinion of thia meeting ib ia desirable that a Chamber of Mines should be formed, to be called the Auckland Chamber of Mines, and that a committee be appointed for the purpose of drawing out a constitution."

Mr John Abbott, in seconding the motion, said he had mosb clearly pointed out in a letter to the "Herald " in February last what might be expected in the future of the Auckland goldfields. Every bubble and squeak matter in the whole of New Zealand wae represented by a council of some sort, and yet 'the mining industry was not. One very important refiult of tbe form&bioa of the Clumber would

bo, he thought, the revision and repeal of the present mining | aWB . Tho finances were a mere bagatelle. Self interest was a more -powerful influence than anything j n the universe, and self interest alone would induce people to support the institution. Mr C. C. McMillan had very much pleasure in supporting the proposition. The meeting, he Baid, was unaer a great obligation to Mr George for taking the matter up in the way he had. In Auckland it was very difficult to get anyone to take the initiative in a matter of this kind, and especially the right man, but he was very glad they had got the right man to bring this.proposal to a successful issue. Tho idea suggested by Mr George re companies contributing was a very good one ; he did not think that five guineas a-piece would be very much for the companies to give, while the total would amount to a respectable sum. Such a chamber as that proposed would give confidence to investors. Many companies had been floated which had ended in a fizzle, and the mining industry in this district had in consequence been brought into disfavour. But if a mine were supported by a respectable and responsible mining chamber, people would see that there was no swindling carried on. Mr McMillan then referred to the Waiotahi mine aa an instance of what might be accomplished if mines were worked in a sysbematic way simply as an investment. This mine, he said, had been paying dividends for 20 years, and if tbo same policy had beeu pursued in other companies as fche directors have in this case, wt> might have had 50 Waiotahis. He looked upon the formation of a Chamber of Mines here as commencing a new era in our mining industry. The proposition was carried unanimously. It being then agreed to form a Committee of twenty-four members to draw up a constitution, the following gentlemen were appointed : — Colonel Burton, Messrs Alfred Nathan, P. Dignan (Bank of New Zealand), Graves Aickin, W. Ledingham, T. Morriu, John Chambers, J. Macfarlano, A. Kidd, 8. T. Georgo, W. S. Wilson, G. H. Kisßling, J. Russell, H. Gorrie, C. U. McMillan, Dixon, M. Clark, R. Roae, R. Sprabt, J. R. Gray, H. Brett, W. Gorrie, T. J. Steele, and J. M. Dargaville.

Mr S. T, George was appointed convener, and ib was decided seven should form a quorum.

A vote of thanks to the chair brought bhe proceedings to a close.