THE MINISTER FOR MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1896, Page 2

THE MINISTER FOR MINES.

BANQUEIE..- AT THAMES,

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING.

The Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister for Mines, was banqueted ab the Royal Mail Hotel, Thames, last nighb, in recognition of bhe high esteem in which he is held by his former constituency, and of the aid which the Governmenb, and especially Mr Cadman, has given to the mining industry in this part of the colony. The arrangements were most complete, and reflecbod great credib on tho following gentlemen, who acted as stewards: —Messrs T. Radford (Mayor), T. A. Dunlop (Chairman of the Thames County Council), A. Bruce (Secretary), W, H. Burch, J. Coutbs, G. S. Clark, H. J. Greeuslade, J. Hague Smith and E. Quinn. Tho Mayor (Mr T. Radford) occupied tbe chair, being supported on bhe right by tho Minister for Mines, and on tho left by Mr McGowan, M.B.R. for the district. There were also present Messrs H. A. Gordon (Mining Inspector), B. Wilson (Private Secretary to Mr Cadman), T. L. Murray, L. A. Bagnall, P. Maxwell, Loughlin, J. Park, F.G.S., G. S. Clark. G. Price, E. McDonald, J; Watson, J. Corbotb, Otter, F. McCormick, W. Davey, J. McEnteer, R. Coombes, H. L. Koefoed, R. N. Smith, C. McLean, Poulgrain, Bayldon, Sbyak, W. Scott, T. Kilgour, Renshaw, R. Comer, McLaren, W. Kelly, M.H.R., W. McCullough, M.L.C., H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., A. Smith (Bank of New Zealand), T. Wood (Chairman of bho Harbour Board), Gillespie, and others. In proposing bhe toasb of " Tho Army, Navy and Colonial Forces " Mr McGowan remarked upon the importance to the whole Empire of being prepared for any emergency, and went on to state, amid applause, that England had recenbly shown that she was prepared bo copo wifch any difficulty that might arise. Mr T. L. Murray rospondod. The toast " Our Guest " was proposed by the Mayor, who said he believed no man could havo done more for bhe mining industry than Mr Cadman had done. Mr Cadman thanked tho gathering for the hearty manner in which they bad responded to the toast. " The Legislative Council aud tho House of Representatives," was proposed by Mr T. Wood, and responded to by the Hon. W. McCullough, M.L.C. Mr W. Kelly,M.H.R., responded to the toaßb of "The Houso of Representatives." Mr Cadman proposod tho health of tho member for tho district (Mr McGowan). He thought ib would not be long before they saw Mr McGowan in the Ministry. Mr McGowan, in responding, said that were ib not for Mr Cadman and men of his stamp, the present Liberal Government would nob now be in office. Mr McCullough, in proposing the toast of "The Ministry of New Zealand," testified to the assistance the present Government had given to tbe mining industry. He said that before Match, 1895, there were only 4,893 acres held for mining purposes. Up to October 5,225 acres had bean added, and since last October there had been granted, or were awaiting the decision of the Warden, no loss than 55,371 additional acres, which gives a total of 65,000 acres of auriferous country. Within the next two years he believed 1,000 stampers would be at work. » Mr Cadman, on ri_iug to roply, was warmly applauded. He rend a telegram from tho Premier rogretting his absence, and sending his best wishes bo all old friends. Mr Cadman said lb was a change to hear the Ministry spoken so woll of after all thoy had heard from their opponents to the contrary. Why should thoy nob after all legislate for the industrial as well as for the other classes of tho community—the landed class for instance.' It was woll to take a lesson from whab had taken place in the Old Country, and make provision for the timo wbeu Now Zealand would be a bhickly-populatod country. They should do something for those who would como after them. Perhaps in tho course of time they would have to remodel measures that were not working well, bub bhere were labour measures that had worked well. Take, for instance, the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, which had practically put an end to strikes in Now Zealand. They wore endeavouring to deal with tliingß in a sensible way. Instead of sneering and gibing, they should receive praise for what thoy had endeavoured to do. It was surely commendable for tbe Ministry to do whab they could to prevonb sweating. Men ought nob bo be treated as horse.. Ib had been said on the one hand thab the Governmont was going too fasfc and was ruining tho colony, while bho workers on the other hand were asking whab was tho Govornment doing after all ? Abrupt changes wero to bo condemued. One or two-care-fully thought out measures were quite enough for one session. Then take the iialfholiday, which a little while asro caused co much agitation in Auckland. Ib waa now generally considered thab tho holiday waß necessary, tho only dispute being whether the day should be Wednesday or Saturday. Thia was surely a greab advance. Mr Cadman repelled tho charges of tyranny whicb had been laid againsb bhe present Ministry. As a mabter of facb, be said, outside of certain policy measures all members wero allowed a free hand. Only on a few great questions were members required to toe tha mark, and the talk of putting tho screw on was but stupid nonsense. In Parliament there wero 75 members holding widely differing views, and if any measuro were to be passed ab all, Ministers must be prepared to make compromises. It was true thab bho debt had beon increased, because Parliamenb had passed measures such aB the Advances to Settlers Bill, the Land Bills, and legislation of bhab kind, bub bhe inberesb was nob increased because tho borrowers and settlers had to pay it. The public debt of £40,000,000 was ofben adversely referred bo, but hbble was said of the colony's assets, such as the railways. Ib had been said the Paeroa Railway was not to be extended, bub such was nob the case. Ib was only a question of money. The country would have bo decide whether there should be any further borrowing. Ho believed the country members would be in favour of a loan, while the town membors would be opposed to it. The country as a whole would bave to decide this question. If the people wero nob prepared to borrow expenditure would have to be curtailed, for they would only have income derived from taxation to spend. Probably it would be advisable nob to go in for heavy expenditure for a few years, yet if thoy desired to borrow they could do so now much more cheaply bhan ever before. If thoy could geb money at 3 per cenb. instead of paying for every million forty, forty-five, or even fifty thousand as heretofore in interest, they could geb it for £30,000. Mr Cadman ably defended his railway policy, and the native land policy of the Government, and spoke of what had been done in purchasing native lands, more especially in connection with the goldfields. A great deal bad been said about doing something for the Piako Swamp, but the question of drainage made this a very large matter to touch. It would require about £250,000 for draining. However, when the land was absolutely required something would have to be done. Mr Cadman, referring to the mining industry, Baid that in the Thames district they were not doing enough in the way of prospecting. Now was tho time to pugh prospecting on vigorously. They should nob wait nntil everyone waa on his beam ends and bard up. Now was the time when there waß plenty of money about. Ib was absolutely necessary thab in bhe mining industry capital and labour should go hand in hand. All experience bad proved that

in the Hauraki district they could never go ahead without capital. Work must be carried on in a large way. Even the Waihi mine would nob pay' if carried on in the old way. The Miners' Union had objected to certain clauses of his lasb Mining Act, as likely to create monopolies, bub the miners did nob understand his object. The clause was inserted to encourage capital, but instead of creating a monopoly, the result would be to open up the country, and cause the spending of money and the employment of labour. Speaking of the deep levels scheme, Mr Cadman said the Queen of Beauty mabter had been finally settled, and a contract had been leb for the necessary machinery. Ib would bo bhe greatest machinery in the Southern Hemisphere. For instance, it would be capable of lifting 2,000 gallons of water per minute a height of 2,000 feet. The Governmenb would conbribubo £25,000, gnd bhe shaft would nob belong to any one person or company, bub all mighb bave the use of it upon paying a fair cluirge. The lower levels might be the means of draining the whole area, and further legislation might be necessary, when he hoped the people of the district would see that tho company working tho shafb received fair consideration. Mr Cadman resumed his seat amid loud applause. Other toasts were honoured as follow :— "Tho Mining Industry," proposed by Mr T. L. Murray," and responded to by Meßsra Radford and Comer; "Local Bodies," proposed by Mr H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., and responded to by the Mayor, the County Chairman, and tho Chairman of the Harbour Board ; " Local Industries," proposed by Mr R. N. Smith, and responded bo by Mr Koefoed ; " Our Visitors,' proposed by Mr Dunlop, and respondod to by Mr T. L. Murray and MrH. A. Gordon, F.G.S. ; "Tho Ladies," proposed by Mr Poulgrain, and responded to by Messrs Scotb and Chapman; "The Press," proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by the preeamon present. Votes of thanks to the hosb (Mr Morrison) and to the Chaiman terminated a very pleasant gathering.