AUSTRALIAN GOLD QUEST

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21354, 22 December 1934, Page 19

AUSTRALIAN GOLD QUEST

♦ FKDJCUAL FINANCE J-lOI'ES FOR RELIEF OF IN EMPLOYMENT OIK «.iv.N (.OKBUSPONteST.) SYDNEY, December 13. A Hoyitl Commission on the gold industry recently estimated tha' in Australia about £600,000,000 worth of jrold was still to be won—iT.ore than the amount of Australia's external debt. It is with the idea of ending some of the wealth, and as a n:':sni of relieving unemployment, Th;;t Die Commonwealth Government has now agreed to spend £.403,000 in order that prospecting parties may be eft'cientlv organised and sent out. 'fee grunt of £403,000 will be allo-rj-K-ri to the states, by which it will be used to extend the practice of sustenance prospecting, for advances to .-".ruL'Kiiii" enterprises with reasonable prospects. for provision of batteries and oilier treatment plants where these- facilities are not available, and 'or the strengthening of geological and other technical staffs. It is estimated that because of this assistance 5500 additional men will be absorbed in the industry. To ensure the maximum beneiit to "the mining industry, the states will set up trusts to administer 1 Ik* Federal fund. It is hoped to absorb in the mining activities many of 'he younger coal miners who cannot t'iitd employment in their own industry. A proposal is that parties of the you iger men should be organised to go Prospecting under the leadership of rm-i tr,-lined in auriferous mining. Au imgements were also recently fnade for Ihe expenditure of £25,000 er t';ve years by the Council for Sr-iont:fi<- and Industrial Research, in-<-f..rjpr.:-;itn>n with representatives of 'he- mining industry on mineragraphic I problem.. The investigators who will] oe c igagod will be free to lend their :n the development of likely proirii;, ;!;!v\vhfi-c- in Australia. It is the •""in «.-f the Council for Scientific and Litius'j'itt! Research to ascertain the f'inn >/' occurrences of gold deposits, j to advise on methods of extraction of ■ e.'e, ;c>cj i„ devise improved methods I '•'■ h'e:; the recovery ol' gold may be 'cita,ed. Methods of treating slimes n:'c aii-o 1o be investigated—a matter ■■ i* has been practically ignored up l-i the pro. cut. An ".•■.ample of how civilisation fol--1 nro-nector and settles when ;.■■ gold is afforded by the '' C -' t-l; tiekl. in Central Aus- I about :>,('.<) miles north of Alice i o._- :,:ni ,",0|) miK.*i south of DarE 'thtfun months ago Tennant's 1 ' '!. ju.-'t a name on Ihe map. V'"',i •■am< the discovery of aurifcr- ♦ •'.!:<). and although an official '■"■'e: • v.,-iven about eirly re--1'! tiifr wealth to be won, the '■ , Ii proved payable, and it ' i'.g developments are likely. ' r "e i. v • °!! lenient is called Tennant's ( i.;;i i-. seven miles from the !»•:-« ofli'-c. and is thus wrongly ' : :r.. e Hut. already it possesses a - o'ei. store, butchery, bakery, post and ravings bank, and a police :-.:«t!o:s. with three policemen. Lack of water was the early diffii"'t Government bores have on!: and an adequate supply is •••-. ttr"d. A. t*»--)-headcd battery works < ( vi-rt:>"r, Basting is continually oe,' tieJd. Traffic along the ovor'and telegraph line road is now heavy. Eighteen months ago only the -'C'ltulpi- mail truck once a month and ■' stsav car or two on its way to Darvin ii-r>d the road. In its early days tii" Held had a "wild west" atmosphere bnt now. in snite of a recent ''it'r( 'h'otii thei" during a prosP r '*!' ou;n-:'"l. (lie township is as '■' 'ir ... ;;.-diicv suburb. r 't' i ;i; .w,!'| • ; f ..x lione Jo sec similar *••"•••• iviv r-prip" to life in many parts Ao '!■ -In,. ootirin2 I heir enntrir,.,ru ' Australia's .hidden v ' r sl'h n.'o the national pool. I