ALLEGED SCANDAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 9

ALLEGED SCANDAL

NORTHERN TERRITORY GOLDMINING CONCERNS SERIOUS CHARGES MADE AN INQUIRY URGED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 14, 9.55 p.m.) Canberra, March u In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. Blain, the new member for Northern Territory, directed the Government's attention to methods employed by certain mining syndicates operating in that region. Mr. Blain described the whole business as an " unsavoury scandal.' 1 He particularly referred to the Arnheim Land Company, whose reports, be alleged, were misleading and incorrect. The member referred also to the activities. of a certajn individual, who, he asserted, was exploiting the Granite goldfields.. He described him as a " professional claim jumper." He declared that such rascality was going on among some of the that it would not surprise him if it led to violence.

There were also grave suspicions, said the member, of " salting " on some of the leases. Two persons closely associated with the Arnheim Company had ibeen associated with political scandals in Sydney, said Mr. Blain. The Government, having granted leases ill the first place, should now institute an immediate inquiry into the whole of the goldmining operations in the territory. Nobgdy was making anything out of mining there except " go-get-ters " and the Sydney Stock fixchange, which appeared to have no morals where Commission was concerned.

The Minister of the Interior, Mr. T. Paterson, in replying, said the Government was not going to be stampeded into action on the mere allegation of one member.. Nevertheless, it would do everything possible to protect the investing public. He promised to make a statement to-morrow.