Editorial Notes

Extract

The Mines Department announces the formation of an Advisory Committee to assist the Secretary for Mines in matters relating to the Metalliferous Mining Industry. Never was the mining of metalliferous ores in this country in a more parlous condition, for, with the exception of iron ore and ironstone mining and quarrying, practically all the metal mines of the country are shut down, for the very good reason that the cost of production of the dressed minerals is higher than the price at which they can be sold. The high price of production is to be ascribed partly to the increased cost of labour, partly to the high price of materials; while the low price offered for the products is due partly to the low level at which the metals stand in the markets of the world (they are down in some cases nearly to pre-war level), and partly to the high returning charges of the smelters, whose costs have been heavily increased both by the high price of labour and the excessive cost of fuel. Mr. Bridgeman is to be congratulated on being able to get together such a representative body to advise the Mines Department.