2000 PROSPECT FOR GOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 7

2000 PROSPECT FOR GOLD

GOVERNMENT’S ASSISTANCE UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD’S FUNDS. £5OO A WEEK FOR OVER 700 MEN. By Telegraph.—Brew Association. V . Wellington, Lust Night. The extent to which the Unemployment Board is encouraging prospecting for gold by men who would otherwise s be workless in cities or a charge on relief funds is indicated by the fact that at the end of last month no fewer than 786 men were being assisted by the board in this work. On the basis of the present number prospecting, the financial assistance being given by th* board amounts -to £22,000 a year, or between £4OO and £4'so a week. _ Help is given to prospectors in different ways. Of the total of 786 seeking gold at May 31, 622 were being assisted under No. 5 scheme. As far as the board’s funds permit it is doing everything possible to encourage gold .prospecting It has been found that those who are prepared to leave the cities are in many instances able to make a good living. Although it is sometimes found necessary to supplement their earnings by certain forms of assistance, the great majority of prospectors are reaping the benefit of their decision to leavo tlie cities* It is estimated that at the present time there are. at least 2000 men prospecting for gold throughout New Zealand, under. the. auspices either of the Mines Department or of the Unemployment Board, both of which organisations are co-operating in fostering this form of unemployment relief which is likely to prove lucrative for some. A party of 25 men will leave Wellington to-morrow for the Golden Hope goldfield in the Nelson district. These men pay their own passages and find their own .equipment and tools, costing them about £lO to reach -the goldfield fully ' equipped for their work. They receive a. subsidy and will work with the assistance of'the mining authorities.