Excerpt from The South African Mining Journal, Vol. 25: Part II., May 13, 1916

The announcement of a. New Union Loan to be placed in this country adds point and interest to the discussion of the Far East Rand, provoked by the publication of Mr. Liotze's report. Early in the week news came from Capetown that, whatever the recommendations of the Select Committee might be, the Government would hardly be able to find time to give them legislative effect during this session. As the week wore on, however, evidence began to point in the opposite direction. Thegovernment Mining Engineer, 'for the second time since the Committee began its sittings, was summoned to Capetown, and the belief is growing that his visit is connected with the introduction of an amendment to the Gold Law. This supposition is supported by the news of the new Union issue, since it is inconceivable that the Government should on the one hand further pledge the credit of the Union, and, on the other, refuse to take the first and most obvious step to strengthen that credit by removing the legislative obstacles against, and putting things in train for, the early development of its greatest potential asset - the Far East Rand. Other aspects of Mr. Kotze's report are dealt with elsewhere in this issue. Here our purpose is merely to emphasise its features of courage, clear ness and commonsense. This is best proved by the recep tion it has had from the cranks, the State Socialists, and the whole yelping chorus of destructive critics whose hatred of all progress invariably takes the malignant form of sowing rancour and suspicion. These people pretend to see all sorts of dark happenings foreshadowed in Mr. Kotze's report, when-in reality it is simply no more and no less than the well-reasoned opinion of a. Singularly able and fearless Government technical adviser. It is so clear that we believe no one not woefully prejudiced can fail to follow and admit the soundness of the arguments; and it is courageous because it tells the Government in plain unmistakable Ian, guage that it must no longer delay action if it wants to preserve uninjured the credit of the country, which it is now about further to mortgage. As we pointed out last week, Mr. Kotze's report confirms in a striking way what this paper has been saying on the subject for some years back. His concluding passage, in which he emphasises the urgency of the matter and the approaching demise of several Central Band producers, has, indeed, been a stock argument with us, and Mr. Kotze has shown no petty fear of boldly repeat ing it. The point is, of course, that the warning now should come from no less an authoritv than the Government Mining Engineer. So grave an admonition from so authoritative a source no Government could ignore. And Parliament can rest assured that the people of the Rand are with Mr. Kotze in this matter. They may know it is impossible at this moment to raise. Many millions to complete the development of large areas of the Far East. But they recognise that a start must soon be made. Or it will be too late to bridge the gap or fill the hiatus between the soon-to-be. Exhausted pro ducers and the mines to be opened on the Far East. Merely a beginning is now desired that no time may be lost, when monetary conditions become more favourable for financing a number of rew undertakings. The reform of the Gold Law on the lines suggested by Mr. Liotze is the first step, and all the machinery, even down to the draft Bill, is, we believe, in readiness for Parliamentary action. For far too long the. Matter has been hung up. General Smuts for two' years in succession declared that it was a question of urgency, and it is unthinkable that it should now be delayed for another year. The Far East Rand must cease to be merely the party cry of Socialistic agitators; but, in the. Interest of the State credit it must be put in the way of realizing its great productive, spending, purchasing and Vitalizing possibili