SUBSIDISED PROSPECTING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1931, Page 5

SUBSIDISED PROSPECTING

BETTER PRICES FOR GOLD SOUGHT.

REQUESTS TO THE MINISTER.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Christchutch, Last Night. Asking that the Government should make arrangements for the payment of tlie London rate of Sss an ounce for gold in New Zealand, instead, of the standard rate of 77s now being paid by the banks, and that it should bring into operation the provision of the Mining Act subsidising prospecting at the rate of 5s in the £1 on expenditure, a deputation representing mining interests of the South Island waited on the Minister of Mines, the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, at the Christchurch railway station this evening. The reason given for the second request was that there is a great deal of low-grade ground that could be worked and give employment to a large number of men. •

The deputation was also anxious for the Government to make arrangements for gold to be taken over in Marlborough near the goldfields and thus save the present transportation to Dunedin. Stating his sympathy with the mining industry the Minister promised his consideration of the requests. “Now is the time that the more gold we produce the' better for the community,” he said.