SEARCH FOR GOLD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11828, 9 January 1933, Page 5

SEARCH FOR GOLD

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD TO

EXTEND WORK.

INTENSIVE PROSPECTING ON COROMANDEL RANGE.

MANY MORE MEN TO BE PUT ON

(Pre-ss Association-1 AUCKLAND, Jan. 8

The Unemployment Board is at pi'eBcut .assisting some 2000 men in goldmining and prospecting, and it hopes by the end of summer to double this number. The Thames aud Coromandel areas will be included in intensive prospecting campaign that is being planned. In making this statement Mi". J ■ S. Jesgep, Deputy-chairman of the Board said that the object of the hurried special visit he had just made to Wailii and Thames was to confer with the Inspector of Mines and mining executive of the Unemployment or gniiisation with a view to pushing forward a much more intensive prospecting effort over the Coromandel range. The hoard was fully aware that the work of prospecting for reefs in hush country was much more difficult than searching for deposits of alluvial gold, but tlie outstanding success that had been met with in connection with assisting xincmployed to mine alluvial areas; especially in Otago, gave warrant lor the utmost possible effort in quartz country. The little that had been done so far by 200 or 300 subsidised prospectors in this region had given quite encouraging results, and the Board was definitely of opinion that if tracks were opened up to give at least pack-horse access to promising areas, there would be mucli greater hope of making discoveries that would create employment for a lengthy period.

GLOWING PROSPECTS

“I am not a mining authority. ’’ said Mr. .Jessep. “but I have been gathering from experts information which convinces me that the Coromandel range has never been fully explored by skilled prospectors, and that there exists the possibility of winning as much gold as has ever come out of it. I am satisfied that many areas of the ranges are worth a much more exhaustive investigation than they have ever received, and the Unemployment Board will apply the necessary funds io that end. Whenever geologists and the Minos Department authorities recommend the cutting of access tracks, the Board will provide funds for the work. hi Otago we have discovered good deposits within a mile and a half of a town established 50 or 60 years ago. In such busli c-ountrv as Coromandel, it is not enough 'tliat a prospector or t"'o should go in with their food on their back for a few dnvs. It is essential that camps should be established, and be made the base of operations. To enable this to be done, pack-horse trails port at least is essential. and the tracks we have in mind will render that possible. One good find would justify all the expenditure.”

QUALIFIED MINERS AS SUPER VISOR*.

A further step in the forward move incut, continued Mr. Jessop. would be the employment of move qualified miners as supervisors, it being the Board’s policy that all inexperienced men should work under skilled guidance. Four more mining engineers would also be required for various parts of the Dominion.

HELP TO LEGITIMATE GOLD-

MINING COMPANIES

Mentioning that the Board was always prepared to consider applications from goldmining concerns for subsidising wages of registered unemployed Mr. Jessep said that one concern would have closed down hut for this assistance. The hoard had agreed to subsidise wages of portion of the men, provided all were retained. In consequence 100 men were working today}, Every encouragement was given to private enterprise to develop mining, but the Board was very adverse to syndicates taking up areas and doing nothing with them. Constant care was exercised to see that assistance was not given to concerns whose only aim was to do a little development to aid wild cat floating. “There will b c no exploitation of the public through relief subsidies,” said Mr. Jessep.