MINING POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 8

MINING POLICY

We publish this morning a statement by the Minister of Mines respecting the policy that will be followed by him with a view to the expansion, wherever possible, of the industries the operations of which fall within the purview of his department. There is hardly any part of this statement with which it is reasonably possible to find fault. One point in connection with it that is distinctly noteworthy is the extent to which Mr Webb expresses his satisfaction with, and approval of, the measures that were adopted by his predecessors in office. But he complains that the Mines Department has been financially starved, and it is perfectly true that during recent years, for reasons which are sufficiently obvious, the finance - placed at its disposal was strictly limited in amount. While Mr Webb relies upon the provision of funds that will enable him to embark upon the prosecution of an energetic policy, directed to the doubling of the production of-gold, it is rather curious that one method by which he indicates the possibility of his department securing adequate finance is that of earmarking a substantial proportion of the proceeds of the gold export tax for application to the prospecting and developing of mines. We were under the impression that the gold export tax was one of the imposts which the Labour Party proposed to abolish when it came into office. Another proposal which Mr Webb has in mind seems also to conflict with the policy that was presented by the Prime Minister to the public. It is that an import duty should be imposed on fuel oil with the intention that a portion of the proceeds of it should be devoted to the rehabilitation of miners who have been thrown out of work through the serious and increasing competition of fuel oil with coal and to their transference to other forms of industry. This was a policy that was, in substance, advocated by Mr Webb when he was a private member of the House and he is merely proposing, now that he is in office, to give effect to views which he had previously expressed. Generally, however, the Minister's, declaration of the plans which he has tentatively formed for affording encouragement to the coal mining industry and for, with the assistance of private enterprise, further safeguarding the lives of miners and providing amenities for the mining communities will be sympathetically received.