MINISTER’S CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22096, 28 October 1933, Page 5

MINISTER’S CONDITIONS

TO the editor.

Sir, — I notice that “ Miner ” and “ Ampersand” are making a great wail about the conditions which the Minister of Mines is imposing on the licenses he is granting to applicants for mining claims. Do these two writers ever realise that probably they, like the writer, gave the present Minister a mandate to carry on the ups and downs of this fair country of cure, but sad to say he is betraying that honourable mandate with which we entrusted him. I have voted with the Government for the past quarter of a century, but shall not do so in the future, and there are many more in Central Otago who are going to do likewise. The dark clouds arc showing on the distant horizon. Our present Government’s days of usefulness are over. Two remnants sewn together never make a good suit. We want a party with a policy, and that party to-day is his Majesty’s Opposition under the able leadership of Mr Savage. Would that our present member were a M'Dougall!— l am, etc., Farmer. Cromwell. October 25. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Recently you have published letters by “Ampersand ” and “ Miner,” two correspondents who would have your readers believe that the Mining Act is a disgrace to the Statute Book of the country, and that the Minister of Mines, by means of powers conferred by the Act, is wrecking the mining industry of this province. Your correspondent “ Miner ” impetuously asks, “ Where would the mining industry be to-day had it not been for the speculator? ” Surely he has been unfortunate in his choice of a nom de plume. I cannot imagine any miner asking such a foolish question, nor any but a disappointed speculator making such an absurd statement as your correspondent’s, “ Hamper the speculator and the industry is finished.”

Neither the mining industry nor those engaged in it have any reasons for being grateful to the speculator. Every bona fide miner knows this, and so does the Minister whom your 'correspondent so presumptuously criticises. The clauses in the Act to which youlr correspondents take exception were specially written in to protect the working miners toiling on the little claims against the designs and machinations of these same speculators whom “ Miner ” so fulsomely praises. The miners of Central Otago should be, and, are, to a man, grateful to the Minister of Mines for imposing the conditions that are being endorsed on the licenses now being granted. Let “Ampersand ” rail as he may about “infringements of the liberty of the subject,” we miners are satisfied, and appreciate the protection which the Mining Act affords rig. All honour to the Minister! If

“Ampersand” and other speculators had their way it would not be long before the miners of the province would be working at dole rates in the employ of big capitalistic claim-grabbing concerns which to-day are eager, to gain a stranglehold on so profitable an industry and one with such rich prospects in Otago. The time is not so far distant when our hopes oi having the lakes dammed will be realised, when thousands of successful miners along the Molyneux banks will have cause to thank God they had a democratic Minister of Mines who, by exercising the powers conferred by a wise proviso m the Mining Act, made it possible for the little claimholders, the working miners, to reap the full rich rewards of their labours. —I am, etc., Farmer and Miner. Ettrick, October 24.