Lake County Press. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Arrowtown: April 19, 1906. A MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

Lake County Press, Issue 2114, 19 April 1906, Page 4

Lake County Press. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY

Arrowtown: April 19, 1906. A MINERS' ASSOCIATION.

The truU thai'* ytvctithceijiiarcl, ami lo th^c'j be jll.lt.

On more than ono occasion we have advocated the formation of a Minora' Association in this district. In other districts associations of the kind have been in existence for many years, and their usefulness has been apparent to anyono interested in tho industry. It cannot bo denied that a repousiblo body, such as a Miners' Association, must have more weight in bringing about necessary amendments to the mining law, obtaining assistance for tho prospector, and generally improving tho position of tho miner, than tho individual applicant, no matter how strong tho hitter's claim or representation might be. Wo do not know of a district having stronger claims for aid than tho Wakatipu; and yot no oftbrt has over been made to obtain funds from either tho local authority or Govornmont towards developing the mineral resources of this extensive district. From tho head of Lake Wakatipu across tho ranges to Macotown the country is litorially a mass of roef3, but tho individual prospoctors have not tho funds at their disposal to thoroughly develop what they bolievo to bo highly payable quartz roofs. Borne little time back when word was rocoivod to close the Premier Mine (Macotown) down, a number of the miners engaged in this mine formed prospecting parties, and discovered several payable reefs in the

back gullies of Macetown, with the result that some have now proved valuable properties and are paying the owners handsomely. But in this the holders were fortunate as they struck payable quartz right away. Had they been confronted with a lot of " dead" work it is possible the reefs would have been abandoned, and nature allowed to retain its wealth. How many auriferous reefs there are in the localities mentioned will ever remain a conjecture unless some means are provided whereby they can be developed ; to our minds the only means will be by way of Government aid to the prospector. The Mining Act, 1905, provides that subject to prescribed regulations, any local authority (for instance the Lake" County Council) may from time to time apply such portions of its funds as it thinks fit in assisting the development of the mining industry. Such authority is empowered to assist in prospecting for gold or any other metals or minerals. The Mining Act Amendment also provides for the Minister to grant loans to companies or persons. However, these are matters that need not bo dwelt upon for the moment. What is essential as an initial step is for tli9 miners to club together, and form an association with branohes where necessary. Once this is done we have but little doubt that the deliberations of the Association will have a beneficial effect upon the members generally, and that the representations and requests, coming from a recognised body, will bring about a happier and more satisfactory state of things than has been hitherto the case.