MINERAL WEALTH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 10

MINERAL WEALTH

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —It was very interesting to me oil Saturday evening to hear two business gentlemen in this city say: "Would not New Zealand be lucky if we could find a rich lode of gold like those lucky Japanese? It would employ most of our unemployed." No, Sir, it would' not employ one other man until this country put industrial men into power, or men who could understand how to set the machinery in' motion to extract the hidden wealth of New Zealand. Assays from samples of reefs, existing in the Nelson mining district of New Zealand have been brought to th© notice of past Governments and the reply has been: "We had reports on those reefs years ago, but how are we to get them, started?" They did not know then and would not bo told, and the same state of affairs will exist until we get mining and industrial men in charge. When facts are put before the Government one is met with an inquiry from the heads: "How much of it exists? Are you sure it's lying in the right direction?" Or "We know of reefs of better values nearer to hand and not so much roading required." Or "Why did the old miners not work it? It can't bo of much value." Now, if Japan found something like we have would not the electric telegraph hum? "What would happen if Japan found a deposit of asbestos such as is lying in:' New Zealand and known for thirty-five years to every Government since then? —I am, '' -THOS. McGRORY.