OTAGO GRADUATE’S RESPONSIBLE TASK IN MALAYAN MINES

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 8

OTAGO GRADUATE’S RESPONSIBLE TASK IN MALAYAN MINES

An inspector of mines in Malaya until that country fell to the Japanese in 1942, a prisoner of war in the Changi camp and later in Borneo, and until last month technical adviser to a rehabilitation board charged with assisting Chinese tin miners, Mr J. B. Mackie, a graduate of the Otago School of Alines, lias had a varied experience during the last decade. The reception and distribution of about £1,000,000 of machinery,among Chinese miners was Mr Mackie’s responsibility during the Hast year, while his other duties involved considering the claims for assistance made by those members of the race whose pre-war plants had been destroyed or taken by the invaders. Air Alackie is assisting the Otago School of Alines temporarily by lecturing in surveying. “Malaya is slowly returning to normal, but rapid progress has been hampered by the difficulty in obtaining supplies and a certain amount of

labour unrest,” said Mr Mackie in an interview with the ‘ Star ’ this morning. A “scorched earth” policy had been observed by the dredging companies during the Japanese invasion period, about 100 plants having been wrecked. The Japanese succeeded in restoring some dredges, but most of them had"* to be reassembled by the reoceupation forces. The number of operating plants was steadily increasing, said Mr Mackie, and it was hoped that 1948 would see the industry back on its feet. LACK OF FINANCE. The Chinese-owned open-east and gravel-pump mines were being reopened, but lack of finance had proved the main stumbling block. Most of the Chinese had suffered considerably under tlie Japanese occupation, and the Government, which was anxious to revive this valuable part of the industry, established a Chinese Tin Mines Rehabilitation Loans Board. As technical adviser to the board, Mr Mackie came into close contact withfi.be miners. “ Some of the meetings held by the hoard lasted two or three days, and sometimes up to five days,” said Mr Mackie. “ During that time it was quite common to interview about 30 Chinese miners seeking assistance.” Much of the commerce and industry of Malaya was controlled by Chinese merchants, who held responsible positions in the community. The Chinese miners were generally very industrious and thrifty, and in pre-war days there were “ dollar millionaires ” amongst their number. The integrity of the Chinese community was very high, and business deals were frequently completed without the formality of recording the contract in writing. DUNEDIN MEN PROMINENT. Several graduates of the Otago School of Mines held responsible positions in the Malayan tin industry at present, added Mr Mackie. Mr Gordon Eairmaid was general manager of the Pahang Consolidated Corporation Limited, the largest underground tin mine in the country, and Mr W. Abel was also with the corporation. Mr Bruce Andrew was joining the Mines Department in Malaya, while Messrs W. Dunne and E. J. Valentine were associated in a practice as consulting engineers at Kuala Lumpur. Mr Harold Service was stationed at Kuala Lipis. Mr Mackie left the Mining School in 1934 to accept a position with AngloAsiatic Mining Corporation. Two years later he joined the Colonial Service as an inspector of mines, and remained in that position until taken prisoner. He served with the Malayan Volunteers and the Leicestershire Regiment at Singapore. He was married on his arrival in New Zealand last week.