NOT AVAILABLE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1931, Page 3

NOT AVAILABLE

DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANCE. PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION’S POSITION. A reply to the Hokitika Prospecting Association’s application to the Mines Department for a grant of £IOO to enable it to put its proposals interworking order, has been received. : c late- Minister of Mines, Hon. David Jones, acknowledged receipt of the letter and said he was pleased to learn that those locally interested had f&Ujqded an Association and he- hoped jtha,tjas tlie result of their efforts a new, payable goldfield. would be discovered, and failing that, that some ol the known deposits would be thoroughly prospected, and values obtained which would justify same being worked, finding employment.

As the Association would he aware, the Unemployment Board had decided to bring within the scope of Scheme No. 5, the prospecting for minerals on the West Coast of-the South Island, subject to rules and conditions. The assistance granted by the Board f° r prospecting had been availed of by a number of unemployed miners and others in the Thumbs "and Coromandel districts during the last few weeks. The work involved in these districts is somewhat similar to the prospecting proposed in Westland. This being so. it was realised by those interesting themselves in the matter, that the assistance granted by the Board out of the moneys controlled by it afforded a reasonable measure of help to those who desired to prospect for gold.

As there is no vote available for granting your Association £IOO to enable it to equip prospectors with the usual equipment, I am sorry that I am unable to grant you the assistance applied for.

Representations had been made by the Mines Department to the PublicWorks Department with the object of having surplus stores made available to prospeqtors at nominal prices, hut as that Department was actually increasing the number of men on the West Coast, and accommodating them in tents, it was unable to give effect to tlie representations made to enable such equipment to be made: available to prospectors and others. As they would be aware the Westland County was credited with the goldfields revenue for mining privileges in the County and £2143 was received by it for the year ended March 31 last. It was suggested tliat the Association should apply to the County Council for assistance in purchasing equipment. The letter was received and it was decided that the Association, apply again to the Department f ols a subsidy of £2 for. £1 on all money collected locally. {UU,/:;

Tt was deeded also to apply for cop-4es-.-of-*©r;' Beißs-.bulletins:- -dealing- with the West Coast gold-bearing- areas.