Coppermine Island ‘Misunderstanding’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30941, 23 December 1965, Page 17

Coppermine Island ‘Misunderstanding’

<New Zealand Frei* AnocioKoni

WELLINGTON, Dec. 22.

The Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) said today that it was “most unlikely” that Coppermine Island contained enough copper ore to justify exploitation.

Mr Shand said that because of a misunderstanding, for which he took full responsibility, a statement had been released giving what purported to be the Government’s decision on prospecting on Coppermine Island.

What had been published was a recommendation to the Government which had not, in fact, been considered until last Monday. On that day the Cabinet had decided that investigations should be done by officers of the Geological Survey without a representative of the Australian firm which had expressed an interest in the island's geology, Mr Shand said. “It must be appreciated that it is most unlikely this small island contains a body of copper ore of such magnitude or of such high grade as to justify exploitation, even if there were no special reason to protect the ore,” the Minister said.

If deposits were worth about £5 million, he thought exploitation would be most unlikely. If they were worth £lOO million, he believed the majority

of New Zealanders might think the sacrifice of the 175acre island, beautiful as it was, might be justified.