CRUSHING OF ORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 16

CRUSHING OF ORE.

PUBLIC PLANT WANTED.

REQUEST IN OHINEMURI.

MINISTER'S SYMPATHETIC REPLY.

[BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI, Tuesday.

The Minister of Mines and Labour, Hon.. W. A. Veitch, accompanied by Mr. A. 11. Kimbell,' Under-Secretary for Mines, and Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P. for Thames, arrived at Waihi from Paeroa this evening. After being entertained at dinner by the Mayor, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, and members of the council, he received deputations. i

Messrs. W. Marshall, chairman, W. M. Wallnutt, J. B. Beeche and E'. Dye, representing tho Ohinemuri Mining and Prospecting Committee, asked the Minister for Government assistance in tho establishment in tho district of a public ore crushing plant. It was suggested in the event of the Government "not being prepared to make provision for a State battery, that it should consider an offer made by tho Waihi Gold Mining Company, at tho request of the Mines Department, to instal a plant at the Waikino mill to treat small parcels of ore won by prospectors and others, at a cost of 20s per ton. Tho company, it was explained, would undertake to carry out the installation at a cost not exceeding £350, tho Government to bear tho cost and become tho owner of the plant and to accept the responsibility for the payment of tho crushing charges. Tho company would undertake to maintain the plant in running order and to pay to the Government a percentage of the assay value of all ore treated.

The speakers emphasised the fact that facilities such as those asked for would greatly stimulate prospecting, and thus would probably lead to the discovery of finds of sufficient importance to bring about a revival of the industry.

Mr. Veitch was also asked to recommend the Government to contribute 50 per cent, of the cost of crushing and treating the ore brought in by prospectors and others, and to increase the aid to prospectors in exploration and development works. He was asked also to consider the purchasing of the New Zealand Crown Company's aerial line and tram at Karangahake. " What we need," said the Minister, " is the stimulation of optimism among the public, particularly when it comes to spending its money in the meeting of reasonable requests for financial aid to mining." He knew that'gold and other kinds of mining were still in the iiniiial stage as far as New Zealand was concerned, but he was not prepared at the moment to say just how a revival of the industry was to be brought about. " I cannot subscribe -to the belief," continued Mr. Veitch, " that the Waihi and Thames fields are worked out. Such a suggestion to me is quite unthinkable. I want to see this district get its chance to begin again. I think I should try to meet you, especially on the matter of working in with (lie Waihi Goldmininit Company, but I will not say just at the moment* how far we are prepared to go. I will consult my advisers and we may finally arrive at the point from which 'we may decide to finalise arrangements with the Waihi Goldmining Company on the lines suggested. ■ I am going into the matter with the intention of helping you. but I cannot commit myself as to mentioning the exact amount of monev that the Government may grant."