JOB FOR THE STATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

JOB FOR THE STATE.

->/»:»*> Testing Ota«o Central &id Fields. TRIAL SHAFTS SUGGESTED.

(By

E. J. HOWARD, M.P.)

T AM GLAD the Prime Minister went to Central Otago. Two years ago I wrote of the possibilities of that part of God’s Own Country. Naturally, when I said there was gold in plenty there, I was laughed at. Now we get an expert like Dr Marsden, of our Scientific and Industrial Research Department, telling us of some of the results of a partial geophysical survey. We find newspapers in startling headlines comparing what has been found to a second “ Rand.” That is so extravagant that one can only assume it was a stretch of imagination. The “ Rand ” (pronounced “ Ront”) is one of the most consistent goldfields in the world. Now, into this basin, from bottom to top, in various layers, Mother Nature has deposited and pressed down the precious metal. Whilst it is a consistent goldfield, that is to say, in yield it has kept up its average since its discovery, that does not mean that the various layers or reefs have not varied in gold content. Since 1886, when gold was first discovered on a very poor farm, this basin ■rs yielded over £800,000,000 in gold, think we have got a pocket or ■ sin of gold like that in Central Otago B ikes the national debt appear like ■ mosquito bite on an economic body. Geophysical Survey. ■ ‘ There is nothing wonderful about a geophysical survey. To compare it to fin X-ray examination of the earth is to use the only picture that one can use to convey the idea to the average lay mind. And, having used it, one must at once point out that the inside of the earth cannot be seen through; neither can the shadow of the gold be seen on a screen in the same way as the swallowed coin in a child’s gullet can be detected by X-rays. Yet these geophysical surveys have been used, and successfully used, to locate iron lodes, to get their depths, and for other minerals. So far, no large gold deposits have yet been found by this process. If our Department of Scientific Research has discovered a goldfield in Central Otago, then it will go down in history in every part of the world. For some reason this metal gold has a magic power over men’s minds. If a Ksooz nugget were found up there next it would start a trek to Central rOtago from every, corner of the world. | Only those who have panned off a

Sdish of dirt and have seen the long tail of fine gold in the bottom know the thrill. Only those who have dug a pick in a reef and opened up what looked likea jeweller’s shop know the [joy. And yet, on one of the richest "miles of country on earth, there is a mine still working that does not carry any free gold. If we could pay off the i National Debt what a wonderful country this could be. Only One Commodity. There is only one commodity left , with an international reputation sufr icient to give it a welcome on every ■ *at, and that is gold. And, strange iO say, having found it, we hide it. In ancient days, kings and queens, and even lesser fry, use it to oranment their carriages and even their coffins. But to-day, when we find it, men are put on to construct large reinforced concrete vaults underground, and the precious metal finds its way there. I would like to have a test of a geophysical nature, just to find out how much gold there is under that building in the bottle-neck of the Square. There are thousands of children to-day in New Zealand who have never seen a sovereign. I saw this coming and so I gave a case to the Museum containing a sovereign, halfsovereign and other coins. If the visit of Mr Forbes, our Prime Minister, to the south will help him o see the possibilities of that part of New Zealand, then I am glad he went >outh. The trouble with our public nen to-day is that they are chained oo closely to their post. They see -Vellington, they spend the greater part t their time in Wellington; they besve Wellington is New Zealand. Wellington is the business hub of ‘ew Zealand, but it is only part of he picture. Wellington has a fixed ncome. With its thousands of public servants with their fixed salaries paid fortnightly, there is very little gamble n ordinary business such as storekeepng. The public servants form a great big proportion of the tram public, of the picture show public, of the sports public and even of the church public. In a city like Christchurch even a wet week means a loss all round. Should Travel More. It is a pity that our leading men cannot travel around this * country more. Not talking, because the preparation and delivery of a two-hour speech does not leave a man in a fit state to view a close-up proposition the following day. It is a habit to poke fun at the politician and say he talks too much. But the average politician hates the very thought of speech-mak-ing-’ And yet if he goes to a dinner or visits a Town he is expected to deliver a long oration on the general situation. Last session we dealt with over 115 Bills, some of them of hundreds of undreds of clauses. Yet every memer is expected to know every clause J every Bill and answer offhand how it affects the individual. Now, I do not believe we have a

cond Rand in Central Otago. But I lieve we have the greatest tail-race in e world. We also have there an id country fit for irrigation and more igation. If Mr Forbes would go on d dam the two lakes, Wanaka and wera, that great tail-race referred to uld be emptied next winter sufficier.tto prove if that race holds the gold .ought. It should not be passed over to pri-=*-te enterprise. As a fact, it should protected from private enterprise, j company promoter has sat on the ' k of Central Otago like an old man the sea. He must be shaken off. en if the gold isn’t there the damming the two lakes mentioned will give iter for thousands of acres of land w classed as arid or semi-arid.

Our motto in New Zealand should i*t: Don’t irrigate where the rainfall xceeds 20 inches. But below that hould be fit for irrigation if there is ny soil at all. If the geophysical arvey is as conclusive as the publicity nen say, why does not the Government 3ack its faith by sinking a few trial shafts? Now 7 the idea is that the valleys have filled up like the basin at the Rand in layers of gold-bearing material. That should be easy to prove. Have we the faith to try it? I would dam the lakes first.