Editorial - SWIMMERS NEEDED, NOT FLOATERS

SINCE dad first took us to the ocean we have always seen a plump elderly gentleman who, with supine composure, floats over the crests spouting whale-like to the wonderment of small boys. Floating requires certain physical and mental characteristics that it takes many years to acquire. These are, in order of importance, confidence, beef, and complete relaxation. Possibly a rough parallel can be drawn between the mining industry and the dignified paunchy gentleman riding the billows. Mellowing in a downtown club he reminisces over his rough-and-tumble youth; when frontiers were being pushed to continental limits and the great mines were discovered on a first come first serve basis. Those were the days of the empire builders. They created the methods, made their own laws, and gambled their very lives on the outcome. For these efforts and sacrifices they shared in the great wealth which was made. There were no comparisons between the small and big operators because they all started small and those with the most financial know-how slowly merged into the big companies of the present.