AIDING MINING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 78, 14 January 1936, Page 8

AIDING MINING

ENCOURAGING PROSPECTING. IN THE MURCHISON COUNTY. (Per Press Association.) NELSON,. Jan. 13. When a Murchison deputation waited on the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to-day, the chairman of the Murchison County Council said that in the county there was a. good deal of mining. He asked the Minister if he would outline the policy of the Government as to reef prospecting. Men engaged on reef prospecting were on the same subsidy as other prospectors, those in the latter category being in a better position because they usually found a little gold. The Minister said His department had nothing to do with the subsidy paid to prospectors, which was handled by the Unemployment Board. His department had no money to assist mining; but the Unemployment Board had sympathetically assisted in the quartz reefs. In some cases it had granted up to full-time wages lor such men if they were practical and qualified. If the people of Murchison had practical men, and the inspectors and officers could recommend the expenditure of money for such prospecting, he felt sure something would be done for them. The money should be spent judiciously and profitably. In most cases now it was necessary to hit out with, large capital and with the use of scientific methods. He gave an assurance that the Mines Department would be a. real live department, which would be ready to assist those who wished to mine; but it would give the death sentence to those who went into mining as a speculation. The Government would not encourage those who wished to tie up development by holding large unused water rights. Mr Semple advised the deputation to submit its case to the Unemployment Board. Where there was a prospect of finding a, reef or good alluVial prospects, every sympathetic help would bo given.