GOLD PROSPECTING

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1931, Page 3

GOLD PROSPECTING

UNEMPLOYED LABOUR

NO MEN FROM CANTERBURY TO BE SENT.

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 17

The scheme for gold prospecting in the Bos® district was discussed, at some length at a meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ Unemployemnt Committee yesterday. The committee, after debating whether Canterbury unemployed men should he sent, decided to take no action. ■■ ■<

■' A letter from Mr J. Murdoch, president of the Ross Prospecting Association, stated that men from Canterbury wore, already drifting to the 'district. Some of them had no money, and no men should be sent unless properly equipped .for the work. Tracks, which could probably be made: under the No. 5 unemployment scheme, had to be cut before men could be started cin the prospecting work. Prospecting associations had been formed in Reef ton, Greyinouth, Kurnara, Ross and Hokitika.

Mr J. IV. Orampton moved that immediate steps* should he .taken to send men to the West Coast for prospecting. Mr J. IV. Beanland said that if Canterbury men were sent to the West Coast the allocation of relief money for work in Christchurch would be reduced. As it was, the working time for men in Christchurch was being cut down. There were many men in Ross who were waiting to take up the worn and they -should get that employment instead of Canterbury men. The Christchurch - Committee could not finance the equipping and despatching of the men. Mr T. L. Drummond -said that the Returned Soldiers’ Association would probably he able to equip any of its men willing to undertake the work. Why, he asked, was the Mayor of Ross appealing for Canterbury men if West Coast men were available ?

The chairman (Mr E. 11. Andrews) : J think tile reason is that no money has been voted for the work in the Ross district. IVe are asked to send mefi and to vote money from our allocations.

Mr F. IV. J. Belton moved that a suggestion should he made to the Unemploymeint Board that it co-oper-ate with the Mines Department in employ* ng on the' work men available on the West Coast.

Later in the meeting, the letter from the Minister of Mines to the Ross Prospecting Association was read, and the committee thereupon decided to take no further action.