CRUSHING BATTERY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5290, 22 June 1928, Page 2

CRUSHING BATTERY.

NEED OF PLANT IN DISTRICT.

MEETING AT PAEROA.

A meeting under the auspices of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce was held in the County Chambers last night, the president (Mr P. Williams-) presiding over a large- attendance of members, and representatives of the gold mining industry in the province, and also Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P. Visitors from Auckland included Messrs. J. Gribble, W. Blomfield, G. W. Sanders, W. Walker, J. H. Jackson,, W. B. Brittain., and R. M. Aitkin, a.ll directors of the Rising Sun Gohl Mining C 0.,. Ltd-, and E. Banks, manager of the Victoria battery, Waikino. A cordial welcome was extended to the visitors by the president, who explained that the meeting had been called for the. purpose of discussing ways and means of establishing a public crushing battery for the treatment of gold-bearing ore. The meeting was fortunate in haying a number pf influential expert mining men present whose help and counsel would no doubt prove valuable. He, asked for a full and free discussion, and that speakers would be as brief .and concise as possible. Mr F. E. Flatt detailed the steps that had been taken to date in an effort to obtain a battery in the district, and explained the proposals that had been put forward by Mr E. Edwards and himself to the Rising Sun G.old Mining Co. He pointed out that principally through lack of a battery the industry had become stagnant, and there w.as little or no inducement for prospectors to work the country. Mr R. M. Aitken, general manager of the Rising Sun Co., said he thought a battery at that mihe would be centrally situated and serve a wide area, if it was possible to put the company’s battery into sucih a, state that it would treat any class of ore by any process. The total value of the battery as it stood to-day was £7405, and in his opinion a battery could not be erected at anything like tha,t price to-day.- To bring the battery right up-to date, including a sum of £550 allowed for overhead expenses, would cost approximately £6095. Mr Aitken dealt extensively with the advantages and disadvantages to tse company in turning its plant into a public crushing battery. If the Government erected a battery and ran it, the cost of treating ore would*be from £3 to £5 a ton, whereas his company proposed to crush for £1 a. ton. A public .battery would increase and stimulate the industry in the district, and would also open up an avenue for relief of unemployment. Mr G. W. Sanders submitted a number of clauses under which the company would undertake public crushing.

Mr D. Leach suggested that possibly the meeting was only “beating the air,” and he referred to the meeting which 'had been attended by the Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) at Karanga.hake. In reply Mr Samuel said he felt sure that any concrete proposals_put forward would receive the sympathetic consideration of the Government. He had already asked the Min ister, when framing estimates, to give particular consideration’to the miners and small companies. It was necessary to show the Government that, given reasonable facilities, the mining industry would expand and prosper. . It wa.s pointed out by Mr Flatt that when the chamber met the Minister a battery was asked for in addition to an annual grant for ma.intenance purposes, whereas now the Rising Sun company would be taking -nearly all the risk and also maintain the plant at its own expense. Mr Flatt detailed what he considered was a fair and equitable basis bn which to crush with the company’s plant. Mr Banks said that he would like to see -a- plant in the district, but he failed to see how the Rising Sun would greatly benefit by taking on public crushing. He favoured the company’s scheme, and said he felt sure that the estimates prepared by Mr Aitken were conservatively correct. To get ore treated for £1 a ton was very' reasonable, and the whole scheme way. one, that should appeal to the Government.

Several speakers spoke with reference to the company’s proposals, both for and against

The president said that they were wandering from the project somewhat, and he would ask the speakers to keep to the- matter under discussion.

Mr W. Marshall considered that the tentative proposals put forward by the company would help to solve the difficult}’ of providing a battery. He moved that the ineeting approve of the company’s proposals, and that a committee be set up to go fully into the matter a,nd place something concrete before the Govemmenlt.' The. resolution wa.s seconded by Mr B. Giw’lliain and carried unanimously. The election of a committee resulted as follows : Messrs W. Meagher (Kar. angabake), W. H. Wa.llnutt (Mayor of Waihi), F. E. Flatt., E. Edwards, and B. Gwilliam (Pqeioa), E. Banks (Waikino), H. M. Corbett (chairma.n Ohinemuri Cpunty Council), W- Marshall (Mayor of Paeroa), P. Williams; (president Paeroa Chamber of Commerce), and J. B. Beeche (president Waihi Chamber of Commerce). Mr Flatt wa,s appointed convener, and was asked to have copies of the proposals forwarded to each member of the committee.

It was suggested by Mr Leach that it would be necessary to see that no time was lost, in view of Parliament opening on June 26. There was also the question of expenses of the committee in going to Wellington, and he thought that a levy of 10s a member should be made. Mr Banks moved that the boroughs of Waihi and Paeroa a.nd the Chine, niui'i County Council be asked. 1 to co.itributo £5 each towards the preliminary expenses.

Seconded by Mr Leach and carried. It was decided to call the meeting of the committee for Wednesday night next at the Municipal Chambers-. At the request of the president Mr Samuel addressed the gathering, and

said that he was very pleased with the result of the meeting. He could promise that he would take the matter up whole-heartedly with the Government, and assured the members that he would do all he could when the deputation reached Wellington. He regarded mining as a primary industry, and the Government had already asr sifted dairy farmers, herd-testing associations, and other organisations. Ti e meeting was asking the Government to contribute only about £2OOO, which was a very moderate sum in view of the tremendous: fillip that the prevision, of a crushing battery would give to mining in the district. The meeting that night was one of the most representative gatherings of mining interests that had l been held in the district for many years. Considering that the project had been put forward by experts and was backed by local bodies ip the district, it carried considerable weight and was proof of the genuine desire to assist a languishing industry.

SERVICES ACKNOWLEDGED.

In bringing the meeting to a close the president said he felt sure that much good would come of it. On behalf of the chamber he wished to express thanks and appreciation to the visitors for attending, and also to Mr Samuel, on whom the miners were depending to give their cause a good push along. The mining industry was bound'up in the progress of the district, and apart from opening up an avenuje for the relief of unemployed, the provision of a battery would certainly give encouragement to the genuine miner and small companies who had been pottering along milder a handicap for years. On behalf of the visitors .Mr W. Blomfield replied acknowledging the president’s welcome. He caused laughter by remarking that although the mining industry -ha,d probably reached its darkest hour in the district,- the miners, would yet turn their eyes and behold the friendly beams of the Rising Sun. TRIBUTE TO CONVENERS. A tribute pas paid' by Mr Marshall to the conveners of the meeting, Messrs Flatt and Edwards, who, he said, had put their minds wholeheartedly into the project. They had done a great deal of work and given much time to the subject, which they *had regarded as one of public benefit and interest. He moved that the meeting record its appreciation of their efforts. The- resolution was carried with, acclamation. ' * , In replying, Mr Edwards said he hoped that the meeting would bear fruit. Votes of thanks to the president, and the Chamber of Commerce concluded the meeting at a late hour.