PROSPECTING IN WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1931, Page 2

PROSPECTING IN WESTLAND

ASSOCIATION FORMED,

ASSISTANCE! TO UNEMPLOYED

With of forming a prospecting association, a meeting of persons interested was held in the County Council Chambers laist evening when Sir M. Keenan presided over an at; tendance of twenty-one. The Chairman outlined the purpose for which the meeting had been called, and said they' would like to hear opinions of those present. Mr Murdoch: This is a disappointing meeting from the point of view of the attendance. The business people of Hokitika should be here in good force, but there are very few. They are the ones who will benefit. With regard to~ tlie proposal before us, I repeat what I have repeatedly said before “There is still a lot of gold to be discovered in the Westland province.” Mr Murdoch moved that an associai tion be formed to be named “The Hokitika District Prospecting Association.” To my mind the point is this, he ■said. It may be said that we have enough similar organisations at present, but have we got the right one? We must have one that ivill function in a sensible, quick and honourable manner with the people who will supply the money, and also with the diggers. “Mr Forbes and Mr Coates should be told that we do not understand the. present position. We do not . watit a. Groyernment l .who encourages 1 us,:on one hand, and . discourages us

oil the other.*’ If' the Association r / proceeded along the lines followed in other places it should progress favourably. /‘I believe good will come of /this mleeting tonight,” lie. added. Mr E. seconded the motion. The Association would not be representative.; „ solely of Hokitika hut would'also include the surrounding districts. The 'objects would be to relieve imemplloymei'T, £>|iid to find what grounds’ would pay. The Assn, should also consider the financial 6ide of the undertaking. Funds could be raised by mean's of an Art Union, or by subscription. The, .motion was .carried lyA voice: What will be the. position of .the, unemployed? j [Mil;Murdoch: ;Jlvery map-;who Vishes to join this A'ssn. should be treated with every possible consideration. A levy by Avpy of subscription, should he mad© on the memWri jto lensufe; „ . . . -t some financial income^ Mr Warren moved that the subscription be a minimup of 2s. r A voice: 'Why not 'cfept•>some qfitb©; absent business men as ' members of the Assn, and charge them 10s. , v Mr Butler 1 agreed ' tion should be 10s, but was not in i 'favour of the remainder of the suggestion. Mr Warren : You cannot nominate mien tlpir ‘ consent. This / is not; llmatter which can be -treated in a . of levity.. We are heye in the 1 of mining: irl this dis-' trict, and ltd r hclp ; .the unemployed. He thought an Art Union! a good * method of raising money, but denounced'“4ll'© proposal to' set the subscription at 10s.. Many of the men had been out of work for some time and' would hot be".able to- pay it. It would cut out a large number of miners and saw-mill hands, who, otherwise, would join the Assn. A compromise was reached when a further amendment that the subscrip- ; tion be os Ava& decided, upon, Mr Warren being in favour. . Those present formed„ themselves into the Assn., with power to add. The question of appointing a suit--1 able executive, occupied the attention of members, and, on the motion of v Mr Boyd, it was decided that the jexfecutive should comprise ’ five town and four country members. The majority of town members would permit of regular.-msetings being held, while country,’ members rep resent in g the various districts would assist with their : advice and local knowledge.

The following executive was elected: —Messrs S. Honey (Stafford), 'S. Hyndman (Rime), W. Boyd (Rimu), T. R. Ohestennan (Kanieri), N. -Warren, T. Moore, E. W. Heenan, A Lawn* and G. Sutherland.' 'Mr Peake was appointed Secretary. Mr Jeffries said 'that something should be done before ’Xmas and he moved that the Minister of Mines be adivsed immediately of the step that had been taken, and itliat application should be made for a grant to enable the men to get to work straight away. The motion was carried.

The meeting then adjourned and a short meeting ‘of the executive was subsequently held.

Mr Warren moved that Mr A. Lawn be elected Chairman of the executive. H© referred .to Mr Lawn’s great knowledge of mining, and said that, a® a Chairman, he had few equals m Hokitika. His capabilities were eulogised by other members, and >7r Lawn, after some indecision, consented to take the office. “The formation of this Assn.,” said the Chairman, “was a thing .which should have been done a long time ago. In Westport the membership was abo\it /1000, and the subscription oply Is, while there were about 500 at Reefton.P

Ways and means of providing funds occupied the attention of members for some litftle time, and it was (ultimately decided that a small committee be set up to approach business® men in Hokitika, soliciting their support, and that country members

should devote their attention to their Cespcctjivle districts. Mr Heenan apologised for the absence. of the Mayor (Mr Perry), who had informed him that he was sympathetic With the Assn, and would give it even.- assistance. He moved that two members oi th e executive he elected to represent the Assn, on the Hokitika TJnemploym/enh; Board. Messrs Lawn and Warren were appointed. Tile Chairman said that the A'slsn. should stress the point that it was the gold that the Assn, was after primarily, as well as assisting the unemployed. Thiey. were seeking subisciptions to assist prospecting in the district. The next, meeting of the executive will be held on Monday, . November 23rd.