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Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1922, Page 2

Thk proposal emanating from the Mines Department to initiate a prospecting scheme for West land is a step in the right direction. The idea as set out in a letter published to-day, is to equip a party of five men, and provide for a period of eight months in the field. The locality is to be nominated by tbe Local bodies and approved by tbe Minister wlio makes the scheme contingent on the Department being able to secure a reliable leader and tbe local bodies defraying half the cost of the enterprise. It is but fair, of course that there should he some local contribution to such ;i venture the fruits of which would be for tbe imme'lbi'.e benefit of the district, but the local bodies should he asked to find a more reasonable quota than one half. A quarter or at most a third of the amount would he a more equitable allocation, seeing that the country lias in times past derived so much benefit from the gold-mining industry. In the past, too, the discovery of new fields, and the whole exploitation of minim* has been left largely to private enterprise. In otiier industrial enterprises, the Government has not shown a niggardly hand in helping towards development or expansion of trade. The proposal as it emanated originally from here was merely by suggestion, and soring that the Department is prepared to adopt the suggestion in the main, it might well be disposed to be more generous in the financial help extended. Tho Department is to exercise the controlling voice in the organisation and selection of the party, and the Minister may veto any proposal in regard to locality. Thus being tho dominant partner in the matter, it is not unreason-

able to expect more generous financial help from the Government. The Department is certainly to be commended for its action, and it might well earn the more generous thanks of the community by providing a more substantial , moiety of the cost. j Tfte whole question of prospecting just j referred to. it to come before the next . sitting of tho Local Bodies’ Confercn o at Hokitika. This is scheduled for tho last Wednesday in tho month _ and it is to he hoped that there will he n re, presentntivo attendance to fully discuss the matter. The main business will bo to determine the lofinj fin,mein! sup. port to bo nccorded and tho method

of contribution, together with any suggestions_ as to localities for operation. More than one locality might be suggested seeing that eight months are to he set aside for outdoor work. The season of the yonr suitablo for hack country prospecting is now at hand, and no time should be lost if possible in reaching a finality, as regards tho preliminary arrangements. In reference to tho monetary contributions the local bod ies will require to ascertain bow far' they call assist both legally and financially. Where the law allows contributions for such a purpose the local bodies would do well to make the contribution as liberal as possible, even to tbe length of doing something through the rates. This district, the experts are continually telling us, is highly mineralised, and from time to time individuals put their faith in various local schemes and contribute liberally. The present proposal is essentially a public one, and the benefits wall lrc all for the public good. Tin’s should encourage a display of faith in the golden future of display of faith in the golden future of the district by a contribption equal to the means of the local bodies. 'Assuming that the Government will accept say a quarter or even a third of the cost from local contributions, it should not lie beyond the resources of tho district to readily provide such a quoth seeing that the results of the expenditure promise to give such direct local returns.