QUEST FOR GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1932, Page 3

QUEST FOR GOLD

AID FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD WELLINGTON, June 8. The extent to which the- Unemployment Board is encouraging prospecting for gold by men who would otherwise 'be worklesa iu the cities or, a charge on the’relief funds i,s indicated by the I fact mat at the end of fast month no fewer than 786 were, being'' 1 as* I Misled by tne Board to carry out- this , \\<n‘k. On too basts of the present | number prospecting the financial asstst- ! ante being given by the Board ahiouiit.s 1 to £22,000' per year or between £-100 j and £450 per week. . | ilclp is given to prospector’s in ’ <l i 1 - j fei^ent-’ways. Of the total of 78(5 seekin. r geild at May Gist., G 22 wcie being as-->isted under No. o vSclierne. ; So’five Tin. tbe Botfl'd’s iTi-ifils"Will permit,: it ik f doing possible 'to eii\ounigc} -‘pl'biipeL'LiWg "for gold.'"’lt- has been iVnilld ’that 'Ulb.se who -Are l'prcpared to leave the cities are” in many iiK-lances able to make a good living. Although it in sometimes found 'necessary to supplement their eai'iiings by certain forms of assistance* the, great inajorily of the prospectors are reaping Liio benefit of their decision to leave the cities. It is estimated that at the present Lime there are at least 2000 men prospecting for gold throughout New Zealand under the auspice's either"of the •Mines Department or the Unemployment Board, both of which organisations are co-operating in fostering tins, form of unemployment relief, which is likely- to prove lucrative for some. A party of 25 men will leave Wellington to-morrow for the Golden Hope goldfield in the Nelson district," -These men pay their-'own passages and find their own bqitifitilent and tools. "It > s costing them!-Wboiit £lO each to get n, lim goldfield fully equipped fiw-their work. They receive a subsidy and will work with-the assistance of, the 'mining authorities.