REPRODUCTIVE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 5

REPRODUCTIVE WORK

GOLD PROSPECTING SCHEMES VALUE TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA [by TELEGRAPH —OWN coir respondent] WELLINGTON, Monday "In the 18 months we have been in office, the number of unemployed has been cut to an eighth," said the Hon. J. 31. Drew, Leader of the Legislative Council, Western Australia, who , arrived by the Wanganella on his first visit to the Dominion. "Full rates are paid on relief works, all of which are reproductive undertakings," he said. "Single men are allowed to earn up to 30s a week and married men with families may be given full-time employment for six weeks and then have to stand down for two or three weeks." One of the most successful schemes put into operation had been the placing of 1000 men prospecting for gold. These men had been sent out to the old goldfields in gangs of four, each in the charge of an experienced prospector. Several discoveries had been made in the old fields, but the parties had gradually spread out and broken new country. These men, received 15s a week assistance from the Government, but hod been told to take work in the mineC or on pastoral lands if they could obtain it.

• The result had been highly gratifying in three ways. Firstly, ' the goid production of Western Australia had increased by approximately £IOO,OOO in 18 months, making the State one of the few countries showing a notable increase in gold output; secondly, because a high proportion of those engaged had gone off sustenance altogether and had become prospectors themselves; thirdly, it had resulted in developing a fine class of young men. In consequence, the Commonwealth Government had decided to put another 1000 unemployed out on a similar scheme.

If prices of wool and wheat were right Western Australia would he very prosperous, Mr. Drew said. Speaking of tlie secession movement in the State, he said its leaders were men who had favoured the federation in 1902 and those who had opposed the federation originally had remained in the background. The trouble, they claimed, was that tlie constitution had been interpreted by the High Court and bv various Commonwealth Governments in a different manner to that which the founders of the federation ha(J intended. Mr. Drew, who is accompanied by his wife, said be had watched the political affairs of the Dominion with considerable attention and coining from Western Australia he was greatly*interested in the pioneering work of Sir George Grey.