MINING INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 155, 28 December 1935, Page 10

MINING INDUSTRY

STIMULUS TO BE GIVEN

MINISTER'S INTENTIONS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. It is the intention of the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, to visit all the mining centres in New Zealand before Parliament meets probably towards the end of February. Interviewed last night by telephone from Waikouaiti, where he is spending a short holiday, the Minister stated that it was the intention of the Govern-, men to put mining where it should be. "Some of us, I for one," he said, "think that mining has been neglected, and it is our intention to place it in a position in accordance with its importance to the Dominion." Mr. Webb said that he would leave Wellington about January 9 or 10 for Nelson, after which he would make a thorough tour of the West Coast. Immediately afterwards he would either come to Otago or proceed north to the Thames district. It was his intention, however, to visit all the mining centres of the Dominion before the opening of Parliament with the object of gaining first-hand information concerning the problems confronting miners in New Zealand today and of stimulating the industry. He also wished to find out what amendments were necessary to both the Mining Act and the Coal Mines Act. "I also intend, as soon as possible," the Minister" added, "to visit certain oil-bearing areas in the Dominion." Acked whether he thought there was a possibility of oil being produced in New Zealand in payable quantities, Mr. Webb said that many optimistic representations had been made to him on the subject. In the meantime, however, all he could hope to do was to make investigations with the object of ascertaining the exact position. If it was found that oil could be produced as an economic proposition, assistance would be given.