Gold Industry: No Answer To Simple Question

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 May 1949, Page 4

Gold Industry: No Answer To Simple Question

Though pressed on several occa* sions for a reply, the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, has still failed to answer the question put to him by the Westland Progress League as to whether the Government desired to see the gold industry extinguished or carried on. This statement was made, at the half-yearly meeting of the Westland Progress League at Hokitika last evening.

There was an attendance of about 300 at the meeting. Reference to the efforts of the league council to obtain support for the gold industry since the elimination of the exchange rate was made in the half-yearly report tabled by the president, Mr G. R. Harker. “Stream Of Letters” “Probably none of our files have grown to such an extent in such a short period as the one relating to the gold industry,” he said. “Our first approach to the subject was made only three months ago and since then there has been a steady stream of letters to Cabinet Ministers urging that something be done, and done quickly, to see that this industry which, gives so much employment in our district—direct and indirect —is permitted to continue its operations. “We have asked the Minister of Finance the clear question—Does the Government consider the industry should be kept going or should it be extinguished?” added Mr Harker. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to get an answer to this all-im-portant question.” “Does the assurance that no employment would follow the closing down of dredges mean that the men will receive the guaranteed wage?” asked the secretary, Mr J. Saunders, discussing the position. “This is a very serious question, and one which we should continue' to put before the Minister.” Mr T. Blackie referred to the support given by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, at its annual Dominion conference at Auckland, to a proposal to help the industry. “Only half of our ammunition was required,” he added. A Simple Question “This is a simple question asked of the Minister and he should say yes or no,” said Mr F. A. Kitchingham seconding a motion that the league again seek a reply to fhe question of whether it is the Government’s policy to extinguish the gold industry or to allow it to carry on, and to ask what progress had been made by the Minister on his undertaking to give the situation further reconsideration. The motion was carried unanimously.