MINISTER’S CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 5

MINISTER’S CONDITIONS

• TO THE EDITOR Sik—"Farmer” in your issue of the 28th inst. gives expression to a sentiment which I have heard quite frequently of late. Yes, possibly we are all to blame, but then, of course, we did not appoint the Cabinet. "Farmer and Miner,” however, amuses me. He gives further evidence of an observation of mine, that the farmer, possibly by constant contact with the woolly ruminant, seems to acquire a sheepish mind or certainly a limited vision. That, surely, is the trouble with this fair Dominion to-day, that so many of the country’s counsellors are farmers, and their outlook is limited by the, horizon of their own back boundary fence. Yet “Farmer and Miner ” makes bold, possibly because of his some time connection with mining, to voice the opinion of the miners of Central Otago. Well, I can certainly account for at least 100 miners at Cromwell Flat, Bendigo, and on the Kawarau, to say nothing of possibly a score or more whom I know personally on the Clutha, and not one of these men is “ grateful to the Minister of Mines, for imposing the conditions that are being endorsed on the licenses now beinf* granted.” These men, of course, are miners and not farmers, yet I have herd many of them express the opinion that the Minister of Mines could do his country a real service if he was to get back to his own farm and leave the administration of the Mines Department to one who had had some experience of mining. Apparently, due again possibly to his limited vision, "Farmer and Miner” cannot get beyond the tiddly-winking dish and shovel method of 'mining when he twits me rabout hampering the speculator. After a period of two years spent in prospecting, at my own expense, I have discovered two areas, both of which,‘to my mind, will stand development. One, an alluvial proposition, requires water, and I have the necessary water right, but to bring it on to the ground will cost me at least £SOOO, and then there will be the added cost of plant when I get the water there. The prospects are splendid, but I certainly must get financial assistance to carry on. My second proposition is a reefing one, in a field ■ which has already produced thousands of ounces of gold, and if “ Farmer and Miner ” knows anything about quartz mining he will have a fair idea of just how ranch this second proposition will take to develop. Now, why should it be necessary for me, before I can take a partner in, to get, first, the written consent of the Minister? I imagine that possibly “Farmer and Miner ” may have a farm of his own. What, then, may I ask, would he have to say if, before he could dispose of his farm, or even sub-let it. or take in a sleeping partner, it was necessary for him first to get the consent in writing of, say, the Minister of Lands? What a roar from the farmers there would be! Yet such a provision would protect the poor farmer from the land speculator, would it not? I imagine that if “Farmer and Miner ” knows as ranch about farming as he would have u s believe he knows about mining he will readily admit that there

has been very much more money lost in farming in this Dominion than has been lost in mining. My two propositions have already cost me- a considerable sum or money, and then there is my time for two years, to say nothing of my “ tucker ” bill, and what have I got in return?—two marketabb proposition, which surely, as I have in all respects complied with the Mining Act, I haye a perfect right to market where I like. I am quite capable of making my own terms with the shrewdest of speculators, but by virtue of what Act, may I ask, has the Minister a right to place a restraint on my dealing? The Minister ' has certainly succeeded in frightening away the speculator from the Cromwell district, but by doing so he has possibly robbed some 1000 to 2000 men of employment as—oh, yes —working miners and hampered a new era of exploitation, which he, as a Minister of the Crown, should know should be ■ hastened by the world’s need of that j medium of exchange upon which our i national welfare is based. The cry to-day is for modern methods I in the development of the mining industry, not one of th e least of which is the utilisation of expensive plant that will handle enormous yardages at low cost and make payable ventures out of what are popularly termed low-grade propositions. In raising money for such development I have always found the speculator a, handy man.—l am, etc., Cromwell, October 30, Miner.