Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1931, Page 4

ASSISTING TO GOLD AIINING. A timely move has been made by Air CFBrien AI.P in regard, to a development proposal affecting gold mining in the district. It appears to be an unfortunate fact that in relation to the assistance of gold mining, the. Alines' Department has gone out of business practically. No fiuj/Js a«re said’ to ho the cause of the suspension, of operations, but an the interests of steady progross in a country so highly auriferous as this, it is surely the duty of the Government to seo tnat the controlling Department of the industry should be fortified- with funds to function legitimately. A recurrence of the gold mining industry is most desirable in the national interests, In times past the flourishing conditions of mining were responsible for very general prosperity, and the Dominion owes a great deal to gold finds and developments for the rapid progress in the past ijn attracting population to this distant outpost, and thereby assuring the internal future of New Zealand. After what has been derived from the good fortunes of gold mining, it is a poor policy now when help is desirable to withhold practical assistance to an industry, • still capable of adding to the national welfare. As a result of the depression in various avenues for occupation hitherto certain and profitable, men are turning their attention to gold mining again. Quite a number of parties aro at work, and a considerable amount of gold in the aggregate is now being won. It is a very useful commodity at this juncture, and is a; profitable exportable production helping the monetary situation of the country very solidly. Air O’Brien has suggested assistance through the Unemployment Committees as a sensible way to spend available money in work likely to' return sterling value. This ds desirable, but it would be- more pleasing to learn of the Alines Department being provided with funds to stride out on an active development policy in regions where the mining experts of the Department recommend. By the latter means there would he a definite policy pursued 1 in the search for new gold-fields, and at the same time proper supervision, so that apart from gold, other minerals encountered would he recognised, and according to their value, appreciated. In short the revival of an active mining policy is required. A good deal of work of this nature was performed, in former years under the Geological Dop irtmcnl, a branch of the Mines Department, but wluit was attempted then was never followed up with an effective test. Still much valuable data was collated, and will probably be found in The pigeon boles of the Department. Inaugurating r scheme of prospecting from the information to be discovered) in the geological reports, there is the opportunity for a. sound beginning. In other Departments much work is being* done by the State in the furtherance of national interests, and the same consideration should be extended to mining There is scope and; need for research work in mining as .iii other industries fostered by the State and it is to that end the peo-

pie now look to the Government to make a necessary and now long overdue move.