ALL WILLING WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 13

ALL WILLING WORKERS

4 Mines Department Staff Praised $ GOOD RESULTS SHOWN “The public has not appreciated as it should,have the excellent work done by the department.” said the retiring L’ri-der-Secretary [of Mines, Mr. A. H. Khnbell, when the staff met to bid him farewell. Iu 1919, when he had joined the Mines Department, <5OOO letters and telegrams had been dispatched. In 1932 this number had grown to 21,000. Yet the staff, which in 1919 had numbered 127, with salaries totalling £23.880, was now’ 69; with salaries £17,276. They were all willing workers who had always responded without a grouch. The cost, of running the department still showed very good results. In .1919-20 the expenditure on mines and State coal mines had been £312,6-15, and the administration expenses, including salaries, bad amounted to 7.2 per cent. In the following year expenditure had been £307,995, with salaries and administration 9.3 fter cent. For 1932-33 the expenditure was £2.11,120, and administration expenses 8.2 per cent. The total amount expended by the Government upon mining up to March 31, 1933. jyas £2,248,657, and the value of minerals exported up to December 31, 1032, was £181,939,719. From January 1, 1857, to March 31 last the Government had paid over to local bodies in respect of goldfields revenue and gold duty the sum of £3,914,030. Most of'these local bodies could not exist without that revenue. There could be no doubt that the goldmining industry was a distinct asset to the country. The coalmining industry, Mr. Kimbell said, was suffering most acutely. There were far too many coal mines, too many men in the industry, and competition was increasing. These facts had to lie faced and he believed the only cure lay iu the establishment and development of the hydrogenation process.

Referring to the work of the Minister of Mines, Hon. C. 15. Macmillan, Mr. Kimbell remarked that the men who had their hearts in the industryhad appreciated what lie had done for the benefit of the industry. His own relations with ail the Ministers of ills time —there had been seven of them altogether—had always been most cordial. If in the future lie could do anything Io help the department he would do it willingly and at once without any expectation of reward. “The work of this department Ims increased enormously since 1 took office,” said the Minister, “and it is rather embarrassing to lose one who has always given the greatest satisfaction. It will be impossible to get another officer with such departmental and geographical experience—experience that has been of great . alue to me. I have a sincere appreciation of the loyal way in which he has assisted me in carrying out my duties as Minister.”

\Vilh an average nnnuaj consumption of 15 gallons per head of the population Great Britain is the second largest beerconsuming country in the world, being beaten by Belgium, with an average of 37 gallons. Germany ties with Austria for the third place, with 14 gallons. Swarms of yellow butterflies were blown into the Bosnian town of Banja Luka in a stiff breeze, forming a cloud bo thick about the lamp-posts that the streets were darkened as by a London fog. Next morning, the street-sweepers swept the millions of dead insects into heaps at the roadside.