SLOW PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 10

SLOW PROGRESS.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

MAPPING THE DOMINION. MINERALS AND SOJXS. "The preparation of a geological map of New Zealand, the stocktaking of its mineral resources, and the publication of the data available, proceeds all too slowly," remarks the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (saye the "Post").

In the last few years the professional officers engaged on this fundamental work of the geological survey have been reduced owing to death and resignation. The maps and reports of the geological survey, the finished product of its activities, are the basic raw material required in elucidating many of the problems of mining, agriculture and water supply. To preserve a proper balance and perspective, to prevent the grave misapprehensions liable to arise when the facts are known only in part, it is desirable that the rate of production be increased."

The Prime Minister in his introduction to the report remarks that the geological survey is primarily concerned with the mapping of geological formations in the country, and about one-third of New Zealand has so far been mapped. The geological mape and publications indicate the structure of the country and also define the probable mineral-bearing areas. This information is useful to miners, engineers, agriculturists; and, in general, the aim is to survey the country's natural resources. During the year, in addition to extending the area mapped in ordinary routine, the geological parties have carried out investigations into water supply, eoil surveys, and also those detailed geological and geophysical surveys of . special areas. The results in these new lines of activity have proved most useful, and are at present in course of publication. "It must be remembered," he goes on to eay, "that in New Zealand it is probably correct to say that the surface, soils, the investigations of which are in part a geological problem, are more than all the minerals buried beneath them. Again, coal is probably more important than all the metallic minerals. The progress in the stocktaking of our resources by the geological survey branclh is progressing as satisfactorily as the funds available permit. The work is necessarily slow, aartly because of the necessity of the topographical mapping involved. It is hoped that this may be speeded up by co-operation with the air services through the supply of aeroplane maps. From my experience overseas, I have appreciated that our geological publications are a factor in advertising New Zealand abroad, and that they often form a base for the attraction of overseas capital in various ventures. The Mineral Resources Department of the Imperial Institute, is of considerable help to New Zealand in indicating market requirements for some of the rarer minerals."