Mines and Metals - Signs of Stirring

THE Department of Mines and Metals' Report for 1970-71 has several things to commend it. In some cases it has figures for up to the end of March 1971. Secondly, it does not hedge or falter in admitting unsatisfactory performance. Thirdly, it has more technical detail than banal generalities. The long 'Introduction', which sets the tone of the report, is obviously written by someone who knows the technical aspects far better than would a career bureaucrat. After the usual banalities about the "rational, optimum and planned conservation and exploitation of minerals", it gets down to hard realities. Faced with a phalanx of loss-making and/or non-producing projects, it goes still deeper to examine, and finally to be satisfied with, their performance during the year. There is no denying that in 1970-71,, more 'real' work was done by several of the new mineral projects than in the past. Should this trend continue, it may be possible to achieve substantial production levels in a few years; but, of course, there is little ground for rejoicing in advance.