GOLD MINING IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21423, 15 March 1935, Page 11

GOLD MINING IN AUSTRALIA

* , Methods of Syndicate Questioned GOVERNMENT ENQUIRY SOUGHT i * (UNITED I-KESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIO 1 TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) : (Received March 14, 11.30 p.m.) ; ..CANBERRA, March 14. | In the House of Representatives , to-day Mr Blain, the new member for Northern Territory, directed the Government's attention to the methods employed by certain mining syndicates operating in the. Northern Territory. Describing the whole business as an "unsavoury scandal," he particularly referred to the Arnheim Land Company, whose reports he alleged to be misleading and incorrect, and to the activities of Mr C. H. Chapman, of Granite Goldfields, Ltd., whom he alleged was "a professional claim jumper." Mr Blain declared that such rascality was going on among some leaseholders that it would not surprise him if it led to violence. There v/ere also grave suspicions of "salting" on some leases. Two persons closely associated with the Arnheim Company had previously been associated with political scandals in Sydney. The Government, having granted the leases in the first place, should now institute an immediate enquiry into all gold mining operations in the Territory, for nobody was making anything out of mining there except "go-getters" and the Sydney Stock Exchange, which appeared to have no morals if there was a commission to be made. Mr T. Paterson, Minister for the Interior, in reply said the Government was not going to be stampeded into action on the mere allegation of one member. Nevertheless he would do everything possible to protect the investing public. He promised to make a statement to-mor-row.