THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6, 8 January 1902, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF MINES.

VISIT TO UPPER THAMES

Ux\EMPLOYED AT KARAXGAIIAKE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent,

PAEROA, this day.

Mr McGowan, Minister of Mines, accompanied by Mr Matthews, private secretary, and Mr Jackson Palmer, M.H.R., drove out to Karangahake this morning, and inspected the railway tunnel, being shown through by Mr T. Shaw, foreman of works. On arrival in Kara\igahake several deputations waited on the Minister, and were introduced by Cr. Stackpole, of the Karangahake Miners' Union. Messrs. Trezise and Graham, representing the above, referred to the unemployed in this portion of the district through the shutting down of one of the" batteries, and' then the partial stoppage of the railway works. They asked that the railway men should be put on again, as there was a lot of distress in the district. Mr McGowan said he could not start mining works in order to give the miners employment. He understood, however, that the Waihi Company would be shortly employing more men, and the Kauri Freehold Company at Opitonui would also most probably want a

number of new hands, so that he thought the scarcity of mining work was only temporary. In regard to railway works the position was this: There were 16 railways under construction in different parts of the colony, and each considered their railway of greatest importance. The Government had been carrying these on each year without going in for a large loan policy, and consequently without bringing in a lot of labour from other colonies, but the yearly grants were not large, and owing to the mining dispute in this district last year, and the consequent depression, more men had been put on this particular line than should have been, and the whole vote had already boon more than allocated, and the Government were absolutely obliged to shorten hands. He had no hope of getting more men on this line at

present, though he was most anxious to see it completed, a.s it would be a good paying line for the Government. To get over this unemployed diffi-1 eulty to a certain extent he thought he might get the County Council to use up the votes which had been granted last session for different roads by letting1 the work in small lots, so that a large number would find employment, by tendering for small jobs. He had spoken to the County Chairman, and he was favourable to this being done, and if the Council consented he proposed to spend the money in that way. He would also make an endeavour to get the Minister of Public Works to increase the number of men ou the railway. Cr. Stackpole said he thought the scheme proposed a very good one. He thought the stoppage of the Woodstock battery was only temporary, and the Company had a 4ft. reef in the shaft at a depth of 2G5 feet below the Waitawheta. Mr Graham said no miners had any objection to work in the railway tunnel.'

Mr Palmer said in regard to a petition sent to him about the stoppage of work on the railway, he would like to explain to the Union that it was not received by him for nearly two months after being sent, through deficient postage. When he got it he did what he could in the matter.

THE ARBITRATION AWARD. Mr Trezise said re Judge Cooper's award, the Karangahape Branch of the Miners' Union had passed the following resolution ajj a meeting of about 100 members: "That while fully aware there is no appeal from the award, they emphatically protest against its injustice to the miners, and regret that the Court thought fit to give sucli an award entirely out of accord with the evidence placed before it, and they think the working men of the colony should take steps to influence the Government to place practical men on the Bench, who will understand evidence placed before it." Vide the evidence given by Karangalwike witnesses re abuses in ptiblic tendering system of contracting which the Court has tacked on to the monthly take system, and abolished the same.

Mr McGowan said he was sorry to bear such an opinion expressed regarding a Judge of the Supreme Court, and especially by a resolution of the Miners' Union ,and personally he had the highest opinion of Judgo Cooper, and the whole community look upon him as an ornament to the Bench. The deputation then thanked the Minister and withdrew. KARANGAHAKE SCHOOL OF MINES. Messrs B. Stackpole and A. Hogg, on behalf of the abo-c, asked for a special grant of £30 to enable the committee to clear off all their liabilities, and make a fresh start. They also asked for a grant to fence the school ground, and to increase the size of their assay room. They also wished the Minister would see that all Government publication.? be given gratis to the Mines Library. Mr McGowan promised in reference to the £30 to get that amount authorised as soon as possible. Ec the fencing and the assay room, he would like a statement s*-nt to him showing what the committee themselves were doing, and he would then Let them know his decision on the matter. He was always glad to do what he could for schools of mines, but he must do it in a sy .sternal ie way. He thought that as technical schools they were of great benefit, and the Board of Education might be got to give some assistance to jtbem.