The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1932. IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1932. IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Imi action ol the Mayor of Ross (Mr .John Murdoch) in advocating con- j sistently the value of mining ns a means to assist- in lifting the dopres- J faiou in this country, is to he highly ! commended. Wo notice from a contemporary that .nr Murdoch has been again in touch with the Hon. Minister of Mines drawing attention to the •possibilities l of, mining cleMelopmen.t under proper leadership and expert advice. This is a step in the rig;*;t j direction, and it is gratifying to learn i that Mr Murdoch has been advised 1 through, the Member for West-laud, of j a visit from the Minister of Mines after the close of the present session. Jt is a long time since a previous IVlinister of Mines came this way, for the office has been moribund practically over a long time. It is hoped teat tire, promised visit is evidence of the Government’s returning interest in gold mining. The records show how’ prolific this district has been in producing gold of immense value in Uie past, and what an incentive to internal development those finds were. With the rise in price for stable products from settlement, gold mining j was eclipsed for the time being, and interest in its further promotion and -development- was lost sight- of by the authorities. The -Mined Department appeared to devote all its patronage to coal mining, and the richer metal has been long neglected. The present value of gold, combined with its need t-o support stable conditions, have given a new interest in its further discovery and working. Private enterprise is prepared to do a great deal to open up new funds when and where located. There seems to he a considerable sum of public money available- for investment, once a proposition of evident attraction is placed on the market. The time is very opportune therefore for fresh developments, and if Mr Murdoch can interest the -Minister in a practicable scheme for prospecting then all things are possible, ft would appear that the district - should be up and doing to assist- the Mayor of Ross in outlining a definite proposal calculated to give promising results. The locality and method of prospecting should he agreed upon, and the style or .system of operating drawn up so that at a united meeting of those interested in a comprehensive project-, a definite proposal should be .submitted for the couskpernof 4110 Minister. Probably net locality alone might he selected, for both reefing and alluvial working requires to he taken into account!. Above all it would appear maiden country should tie the. subject- of investigation, so that a fresh field may he opened up. For a guide in selecting sudi a locality, a- study of Dr. Beil's early reports would he helpful, while sineoi then fresh reefing country has been located, but adequate prospecting is lacking. There is certainly a field in "Westland, so highly auriferous as it« record has proved, for fresh gold deposits, and' the people would be lacking in their duty to the place, if such an opportunity ns the present, being before the authorities the potentialities of the district, were neglected. But what is to be done should l)e on practical lines with the promise of bearing the desired fruit.