"GET OUT OF GUM"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 10

"GET OUT OF GUM"

"AND GET ON THE LAND"

MR. M'LEOD'S ADVICE TO

DIGGERS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

"Get-out of gum and get on the land," is practically the text of the Hon. A. D. M'Leod's remarks after having toured the whole of the gumfields and gum areas in the North. The Ministry is not at all impressed with the kauri gum production as a means of .livelihood. He and his most responsible officers have made a most thorough investigation into the whole subject.'. They.have gone and seen for themselves, have spoken to individuals engaged ia digging gum, have heard many deputations, and have addressed several meetings in- the North. To say the least, the industry as well as those ..who have been supported by it is in a perilous state. ; A "Star" representative who. has been travelling with the Ministerial party says he has heard many pitiful tales on hardship' at such places as Houhora" and. Waipapakauri, both big centres of the kauri gum industry in the North. There were tales of married men having to keep a wife and family of six,to eight children on £10 for three months. At all-the "places touched at fiom.Te Paki, near Spirits Bay, to Kaitaia, the Minister was asked to give relief to distressed diggers and their dependants. -Mr. M'Leod, however, held out little or no hope so long asl they keep to the digging, of gum. Practically all the way down he advised Native as well as pakeha and Dalmatian diggers to get out of the industry, i He said the Government had advanced £75,000 against the product, and his | Department was holding that amount of gum in store in Auckland to-day. It was impossible to advance any more money until stocks were quitted. There was'HOsale for gum. America was the only market, and she was buying very small lots* Whenever his officers could sell a little' they did so, and the money received was spent in buying more gum from the diggers who were up' against it. HONEST ATTEMPT. i Many times during the tour Mr. M'Leod expressed the wish that the Government could get .out of the kauri gum business altogether. He assured the diggers that the Kauri Gum Bill was; an honest attempt to solve the problem, and the appointment of the Kauri Gum Control Board was another effort of the same kind. The greatest curse of the business has been the sudden and extraordinary fluctuations in prices of and demand for the article, often leading to great loss to diggers, ruin to storekeepers, and v heavy loss also to many exporters. There is not, and never has, been, a ring amongst Auckland buyers, it is said, and another thing which.could be said in their favour is that exporters have not been responsible for ; the extraordinary fluctuations which have occurred from time to time over .many years. It.is only a. few years , ago that medium white swamp gum-;was selling at from 100s to 120s per cwt. To-davthe same quality is worth only from'3os to 40s per cwt—that is, if there waß sale for it.

Discussing the subject editorially, the Star,. say s:' "It remains to be seen whether the board will really help the, digger. New: gum washing processes, and the application of scientific methods of treatment on an extensive scale: may prolong the. life of the industry, but. more especially for individual workers it is necessary to realise that the stj^e of depression and hardship through, which the industry is now passing is. merely a symptom of a natural and inevitable decline; and valuable, as .this industry has been to Auckland, there is nothing to' be gained by shutting our eyes to the truth now."