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Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1932, Page 4

The quest for gold was the subject of a contributed article this, week, and it was apropos to the occasion, seeing that it is proposed to find more money for prospecting. This step is proposed through the Unemployment Board, and it is to be hoped the host use will he made of the money to attain the deeded results. We do not know that the Board members as such have a very intimate knowledge of gold-mining and its processes, and for that reason it would be well were the Unemployment Minister to'consult the members of the Mines Committee while Parliament is assembled. The mem•hers of the Committee are representative' of the goldfields districts, and at such, should know something ,of the mineral resources of their electorates. They could therefore advise as to the class of mineral prospecting to be entered upon. In particular, it seems mast, desirable that some portion of the money to be made available, should be earmarked for the purpose of leading a scientific prospecting party, into the back o% maiden country to test deposits. There are fields which should be worthy of boring in the first instance to indicate whether the more expensive shafting would be justified. The Mines Department probably has idle boring machines and staffs which could be put into useful activity under snclj a proposal. The present unemployed scheme is too limited in its, conditions to give hope of much permanent good. Also, under the subsidy, particularly for single men prepared to go into the back country, the grant is too small if tools and equipment are taken into account. A proper outfit for a period of sojourn in the timber land is costly, and there is also the difficulty about packing in supplies 1 . This is an aspect deserving consideration if tangible results are to be looked for.. Experienced members of Parliament on the Mines Committee of the House, could give the Unemployment Minister useful information on the point j referred to, and a better return for the expenditure would be in sight. It is of course something that the .position regarding a gold mining revival is more in the minds of the Ministry. Another result the people will be looking for is that with a brand new Minister of Mines in office there will be some galvanising of the Mines Department, and that between the two —Minister and Department—a progressive policy for mining development will result.