PROSPECTING FOR GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 15

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD

AID TO UNEMPLOYED ENCOURAGING RESULTS With the advent of warmer weather the Unemployment Board anticipates that there will be a considerable extension of goldmining operations in Central Otngo and a systematic development of likely areas on the West Coast if circumstances permit, according to a statement by Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board. "Tho board," Mr. Jessep said, '"has taken a great interest in tho business of prospecting, and success has attended the efforts of some of tho prospectors. Some six months ago tho councils of tho four counties in Otago—Vincent, Lakes, Manitoto and Tuapeka—each appointed an executive, which took complete charge of all Unemployment Board schemes. A special certifying officer, the postmaster at Cromwell, was loaned by his department to the Unemployment Board, and he acted as certifying officer for tho whole four counties. The Mines Department propares reports on various areas, and has kept, a competent mining engineer continually in the district. "There aro at present about 700 unemployed lrien mining in these areas," continued Mr. Jessep. "Tho payment allowed from tho unemployment funds is 30s a week for married men and 15s for single men. Tho men 'find' themselves, but special grants have been mado to the counties from which they might mako advances for the purchase of mining equipment, tents and other necessaries." . All miners' rights held by men in receipt of assistance from the Unemployment Board .carry an endorsement to tho effect that 10 per cent of the value of the gold won is to bo deducted by the licensed gold buyers, and Mr. Jessep explained that this percentage was used by the board for the purpose of equipping other prospectors from the unemployed ranks. "Steady returns of gold, not of such a sensational nature, aro being obtained by quite a large number of miners who have been assisted from the unemployment funds," said Mr. Jessep, who produced a return from one bank in Cromwell which had paid out 14 sums varying between £3O 18s 8d and £1 5s 8d during the past month to groups of subsidised miners. "Quite a large number of miners have been steadily prospecting throughout the winter, where the ground has been frozen so hard that it is difficult to work on tho surface," Mr. Jessep added. "Now that the warmer weather is to hand the Unemployment Board anticipates that there will be a considerable extension of tho goldmining operations in this area." From the Unemployment Board's point of view, tho assistance given, added Mr. Jessep, is turning out not a bad investment. Ton per cent of the value of the gold won is returnable to the board, to be used for equipping other prospectors from the ranks of the unemployed. During August and September tho value of the gold won by 800 men in Central Otago approximated £3600, so that tho board recovered £360 from its expenditure in assisting the men.