322 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



many of the plants, to expect any such saving to be made, a great 

 improvement can still take place and undoubtedly will gradually be 

 brought about. 



Tfie Directors of the Mining Industry have made a long, deter- 

 mined, and serious effort to diminish the waste of explosives, candles, 

 and other stores used underground by paying the men by the results 

 obtained. Some improvement has taken place, but to many observers 

 it seems that an even greater improvement would ensue, provided 

 the intelligent and loyal co-operation of all the men were continuously 

 secured. 



I have merely touched the fringe of this very big subject. I 

 have indicated the main heads under which waste occurs, and have 

 suggested certain remedies which I will recapitulate. 



Nothing has proved itself so efficacious for the prevention of 

 waste of thought as the free interchange of ideas ; made possible 

 by the numerous societies and associations formed for that purpose, 

 among which this Association holds an honoured place. The more 

 vigorous these Societies become, the more closely their proceedings 

 are followed by the members, the more diligent these latter are in 

 research, in like degree will the chances of colossal mistakes and 

 waste of brain energy be diminished. I have also shown what a 

 valuable function in preventing thought waste, centralized manage- 

 ment can be made to perform. 



I have shown that the fundamental difficulty in preventing waste 

 of labour lies in the untrained condition of the Kaffir for manual 

 work, and the inaptness of many of the white overseers for trans- 

 forming a semi-savage population into an industrial one. I have 

 also shown that the Kaffir can be inured to labour, and will develop 

 into a first-class source of muscular power when properly treated. 

 I have likewise registered my belief that the most effectual and 

 permanent means of improving away any waste of labour is by edu- 

 cating the overseer to properly till his position as foreman of a large 

 gang of labouiers, and by teaching the Kaffir, through the sharp 

 insistence of varied wants, the necessity and advantage of continuous 

 labour. 



The best remedy for the prevention of waste of stores has been 

 shown to be the continued thought of the management combined 

 with the loyal and interested co-operation of the men. 



Even if you do not agree with the cpnclusions I have indicated, 

 I trust you will give this subject your serious thought, for I am 

 convinced that the increased wealth and prosperity of South Africa 

 depend in some large degree on reducing to the minimum possible 

 Wastes in Mining. 



