COAST GOLD POTENTIAL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 16

COAST GOLD POTENTIAL

Mr Blanchfleld Confident

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The Government should try to boost the gold export industry Mr P. Blanchfleld (Opposition, Westland) said in the House of Representatives tonight Speaking on the Mines Department estimates, Mr Blanchfleld said experts were convinced there was still a lot of gold on the West Coast. “I believe gold could come into its own again,” he said. Mr Blanchfleld said Australia did not impose income tax on gold prospecting. “I would like the Government to have a look at this. There are plenty of people from overseas interested in re-opening gold mining,” he said. He believed the quartz mine at Waiuta could be reopened. “The days of the big gold dredges are gone. But there is scope for the small bucket dredge," he said. “We should marry gold-mining to reafforestation. The tailings should be levelled out and planted with trees.” The Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) said there was already quite considerable assistance for prospecting by remission of taxation. “But not as much as in Australia,” he added. Mr Shand said he hoped more emphasis could be placed on geological research, particularly in Nelson and South Westland. “There are quite good prospects there for minerals which could form the basis of a new industry,” he said. More should be done to encourage prospecting, but very few people were prepared to do the exploratory work. “1 haven’t been embarrassed yet by a shortage of money to subsidise prospecting ventures,” said Mr Shand.