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Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1930, Page 4

The Otago and Southland Gold Mine Owners Association continue an active body. In the latest annual report issued last week, it stated that among the various activities of recent years might be njbntioned the lengthy negotiations with the Government for compensation for the loss suffered by gold producers owing to the embargo on the export of gold during the war and for some considerable time after wards. Although the representations were favourably received, no tangible results were obtained, and there was no doubt that the limitation of values during the period of the embargo had had a serious effect upon the development, of the industry. Realising the importance to this Dominion in partcular and to the- Empire gone rally -of tho stimulation of gold production, tho executive, acting upon the suggestion of several persons who were not connected with the association. undertook the organisation of a petition to Parliament, praying for some assistance in the furtliei <!evelonmOnt of the industry. After lemrthv consideration a form of petition was decided upon and three, were widely circulated throughout the Dominion. The response, although not so full as was anticinn.ted. was **xtrenmly [ratifying as showing the w-de nop l al whidi the project in view made The netitions ultimately submitted Parliament bore some 1400 to LiO I signatures. n,nd although no - official advice had been received, it. had been noted from lm-wsnnner imports that t 1 *'* Mines and Goldfields Committee of tue House, to which the petition was referred, had recommended its favouraide consideration hy the Government. Tt would he invidious io si node out anyone for special mention, but the thanks of the union are due to tho ma-nv ni°n in different narts of the Dominion who so fully co-opo!at-od in securing signatures for tlm 'Petition. The movement inaugurated bv tho vjnion had resulted in a revival of interest in cold production, many Utters and articles -on the sub-eel having been published during recent

months. Statements on the subject o! a revival of gold mining l>v the Minister of Mines (Mr A. .J. Murdoch), which had been published from time to time, showed "that lie at any rate was deeply interested in the question and ' recognised its importance to ilie Dominion. Another matter which engaged the attention of the executive during the year was the 'imitation placed by the Government upon Hit* quantity of gold which might be stud by post. This limitation was mosembarrassing to many of the smaller companies operating at some clistmco from hanking centres, and it was gratifying to be able to renort that the representations which the executive made resulted in much more favourable arrangements being restore 1. From time to time it had been sugicesWl that the union should ho l.shanded, but it might reasonably he claimed that the work done during tho past year fully justified the ) obey of maintaining the union as a basis from which matters arising from time to time affecting the industry might he dealt with.