Mining

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 16

Mining

Sir,—Marc Zuckerman de- ?■: votes most of his last letter. i (September 30) to the prbposi- ■' tion that we need minerals. Ger- ; Wth-West Nelson Foreiit Park?.s j Western civilisation has’lrarvived ’ so far without Nelson’s mineral contribution, and will Continue to .. do so. Some parts of thls stedp, I wet and precious country Jhusr' | always be out of boundito miners and prospectors. MiMng t has, many economic, social and > environmental costs, besides its i possible economic benefits. Mr I Zuckerman does not deny ! Riotintp’s overseas recbrd, nor I does he sdggest it would: behave t ' differently here unless forced to.' No faculties for public objections, can alter mining’s present prhrtleged legal status. The Mining Act is an act to promote mining. ,It should be, instead, an act to • evaluate and control mining,‘ just as other land uses are regulated. The community is entitled , to insist that no mine operate un- : . ; less Its benefits to. the community ”exceedl» 'i total costs.—Yours, etc., -, . ’ D. J. ROUND, -- October 2, 1987. - K,". Sir,—Marc Zuckerpteh XSep-j” tember 30) presumesi public outcry agafost,the’.GlLAi.,:;:; applications to prospect in North-'> West Nelson Forest Part lndl- , cates, blanket disapproval of mm- / tag operations, no matter where ', • ’ they arei and a consequent rejec-; tion of the to. “our essential Western; lifestyle" , which multi-national mining companies provide. The New Zealand public fe more dtecrimi- ; bating than that For many, and-y for many tourists, parts of Ws “ ■ country, among them North-West Nelson, are simply too special tO be Rotated Jry^tha^proposedrfactivities. Such places offer an>< occasional haven from "qdvancing technology,” hut Mr man seems to be too - btoy;:d®-;\X fending the mining companies to j? realise that there are other bene- w fits to be had from leaving this area alone. I —Yours, etc., lAN COWAN; • October 3, 1987. '