THE ESTIMATES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20382, 31 October 1931, Page 16

THE ESTIMATES.

* MORE CLASSES PASSED. INTEREST IN GOLD MINING. (rnssg association tbleobuO WELLINGTON, October 80. The House of Representatives went into Committee to-day on tho estimates. The following votes were passed: Prisons Department £104,019, Pensions Department £162,649, Marine Department £110,614, Westport Harbour Account £29,73G, Department of Agriculture £414,255 and tho Nauru and Ocean Island Account £505. Gold Mining Industry. Members urged further Government assistance for, and encouragement of the gold mining industry when the vote of £.24,679 for the Mines Department was submitted. The Hon. D. Jones said there had been the keenest possible interest in connexion with mining, particularly gold mining, during recent months. Tho amount of gold won last month had exceeded in value by £IO,OOO the amount won during the corresponding month last year in spite of tho fact that a big dredge on the West Coast had not been working. It was apparent that private prospectors were working effectively and obtaining a considerable amount of gold. Members had advocated the installation of a crushing plant by the Government for tho assistance of miners in a small way. The Minister drew attention to the existence of such a plant at Karangahape, which was subsidised by the Government. Similar facilities were also afforded at the Thames School of Mines. The vote was passed. The following appropriations were granted without discussion —State Coal Mines account £301,279, Department of Industries and Coinmerco, Tourist, and Publicity £138,273, Audit Department £24,896. Art Unions. When tho vote of £210,816 for the Internal Affairs Department was submitted, the Hon. A. Hamilton, replying to Mr G. C. Black (Ind., Motueka), said tho new Government had not yet determined its policy in regard to art unions. There wero a large number of applications before Cabinet which would probably adopt the practice employed by the previous Cabinet and set up a small sub-committee to consider each application on its merits. Tho vote was passed. After votes of £62,942 for tho Department of Labour and £2,649,161 for the Post Office Account had been agreed to, progress was reported. Tho House rose at 9.30 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. on Monday. The Prime Minister intimated that tho Customs Bill would then bo introduced.