The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1935. USEFUL ADJUNCT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1935, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1935. USEFUL ADJUNCT.

Th,b measure of utility in respect to the gold-mining scheme as part of the adjunctive aid to relieve unemployment is further evidenced by the report submitted by the Westland County Mining Executive for the past halfyear. The number of men on the local scheme at June JO, was 152, the highest for the period, and the total expenditure in subsidy was £3,324. The gold won for the term was 3030 z lOdwts, which, valued at £7 per ounce enabled the gold winners to earn an additional £2,124. When it is borne in mind that many of the men are engaged on dead horse work, driving tunnels, cutting races, etc,, and are not able to wash up, meantime, the result must be considered very satisfactory and should encourage a witter extension of the scheme, ft is satisfactory to know in connection with the prospecting also that men are now getting back further, and more maiden country is being investigated. In the absence of tracks, the river beds have to be used for access, and it is often difficult work getting in supplies and material—more dead horse work. But the men persevere. There arc men in the hack country who have used the Wataroa, Big Wanganui, Cook, Paringa and otner rivers, apart from those engaged at upper Aramira and upper Hokitika. In most cases a little gold is being won, and invariably enough to encourage the men to continue and give the locality a fair test. The gold recovered in such enterprising work is all extra wealth brought into circulation, and but for the perseverance the addition to \ the currency would remain lost. But there is the possibility always of fresh finds, .and the opening for longer remunerative employment. The miners as a. class arc well satisfied with their lot, and their contentment is of value to any community. The present scheme has given the opportunity to win much additional gold. Under it nearly 1?00 ozs have been won in about two years, which means nearly £8,500 of extra money circulated among those most in need of the help. The fact that they win it by their own efforts lias its mental effect, whioh is the genesis of the individual spirit which pervades the miners as a class. The reports are so encouraging that it would appear to he Aviso on the part of the Unemployment Board to give greater extension to this phase of its work. In a, mineralised district such as Westland, there is great scope for more and more prospecting. The deep levels are still untested generally, and much mai-

den country remains to follow. The subsidised scheme should be made more attractive to the individual miner to form a working party and set about organsing tests. Much of the prospecting, even as successful as it is, is not co-ordinated in a.ny way. The men have their fancy places in mind, and they carry on full of faith to tost the area. Prospecting supplies genuine work, and to secure the reward, more than were manual labour is involved. The miner must often exercise ingenuity in his workings, and in particular the gold will not grow while sitting by, it has to lie sought after. The effort both'to body and mind is good for the individual. It saves him from drifting, and lie has something to look forward to. Manhood is sustained, and very little is heard of grousing from tiie mining section of the unemployed ranks. The scheme therefore lias greater values than pounds, shillings and pence in the sterling characters which are developed. More should be done about the expansion of the scheme.