KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 225, 20 September 1906, Page 4

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

ITS I__QXJIR_B_EN , _S. (By Telegraph.—-Parliamentary Keporter.) W___Ll_sGTO_*\ Wednesday. Mr. StaUworthy, member for Kaipara, placed a brace of questions on the Order Paper in connection with tbe kauri gum industry, and made an interesting speech on the "subject this afternoon. In reply to his questions, the Minister for Mines (Hon. J. -IcGowan) etated that the Government was not aware that many abuses and much waste are goins: on in

wnnection -crit — mining: for , hanri'pum" is wort— j of con-sider-ation. Perhaps the local .authorities concerned would move in the matter, With rQgard to a suggestion that a sum be pla-eed on the Estimates for tlie the° Minister replied that it was not clear in what direction assistance tvas required, bat any siiggestions would receive careful consideration. Mr. StaUworthy expressed dissatisfaction with, the lack of interest shown by the Government in the kauri gum industry. The gurj-fields of tbe North should, he said, have been preserved for the colonist, who could have turned to them when they were out of employment. At present the fields were overrun with foreigners, who departed as soon as they made a few pounds. Digj gars were preyed upon by storekeepers | and dealers, and it was difficult to e_j plain the big difference between what i was paid to the gumdigger and what | was realised on the London market. He | suggested that the Government should drain some gum swamps, and charge -e_- | tra fees for diggers to use them. A i storekeeper in the North had been inj formed that one London firm employed I 750 boys and girls in sorting gum. A j few years ago between four and five I hundred persons used to be engaged as I sorters in Auckland: but owing to the | gum being exported in a rough, unsorted 1 state, tbe number of sorters had dej creased to 150. lie thought that the i Government should encourage the establishment of industries in the colony which used kauri gum. The Hon. J. McGowan replied that Mr. StallwortJiy seemed to think that little had been done for the kauri gum industry. He did not know what more could be" done. Every buyer sorted gum according to his requirements, and he did not think it was a matter in which the Government was concerned, as the local I authorities were more interested. The

gum industry had been one of the most important ,in the colony, because it had for years saved the cry oi the unemployed. As to protecting gumdiggers from dealers, the gumdigger was well able to look after himself. Oftentimes it was the gum buyer who suffered. As to the draining of swamps, that would increase the labour of getting the gum. Surely, he concluded, New Zealand was not to be afraid of the alien worker on the gumfleld. These men did the work -well, often much better -th**a> lish digger*.-