GOLD PROSPECTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18778, 28 October 1932, Page 9

GOLD PROSPECTING.

SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE. FOR UNEMPLOYED MEN. THE OTAGO DISCOVERY. “Now that the warmer weather is to hand the Unemployment Board anticipates that there will be a considerable extension of gold-ininmg operations in Central Otago," said Mi J. b. jessep, deputy chairman of l he Unemployment Board. He said that the board had taken a great interest in the business of prospecting, and detailed the arrangements which it had nnulo and the success which had attended the efforts of prospectors. “Some six months ago the councils of the four counties in Olago—Vincent, Lakes, Maniotolo and Tuapeka--each’ set up an executive which took complete charge of all Unemployment Board schemes," Mr Jessep said. “A special certifying officer, the postmaster at Cromwell, was loaned by his department to the Unemployment Board, and he acted as certifying officer for the whole four counties, and the Mines Department reports on various areas, and has kept, a competent mining engineer continually in the district. Working under the mining engineer are a number of experienced miners who act as supervisors and give instruction to any unmen who reuuire it.

700 Men Engaged. “There are at present about 700 unemployed engaged in mining in these areas,” continued Mr Jessep. “The payment allowed from the unemployment funds is 30s a week for married men and ius for single men. The men ‘find’ themselves, but special grants have been made to the counties from which they might make advances for the purchase of mining equipment, tents and other necessaries. “All miners’ rights held by the men in receipt of assistance from the Un--3 employment Board carry an endorse- ' ment to the effect that 10 per cent, of ' the value of gold won is to he de- ' ducted by the licensed gold buyers, • and Mr Jessep explained that this ■ percentage was used by the board for : the purpose of equipping other pros--5 pectors from the unemployed ranks. 5 Speaking of the strike of gold at L Cromwell, he said that the hoard had received advice from 'the certifying officers there to the effect that both > the parties who made the find which ■ has been reported at Kawarau had • written letters to him lo be forwarded ; to the Unemployment Board, to which . they expressed their gratitude and ap- . predation for its assistance and for the help and advice which had been given by the supervisors and the . mining engineer, without, which it would have been impossible for them to have carried on. 'Steady Returns. j “Steady returns of gold, not of such j a sensational nature, arc being ob- •• tallied by quite a large number of miner* who have been assisted from _

the unemployment funds,’’ said Mr Jessep, who produced a return from one bank in Cromwell, which had paid out 14 sums varying between £3O 18s 8d and £1 5s 8d during the past month to groups of subsidised miners. “Quite a large number of miners have been steadily prospecting throughout the winter, where the ground has been frozen so hard that it is difficult to work on the surface,’’ Mr Jessep added. “ Now that the warmer weather is to hand the Unemployment Board anticipates that there will be a considerable extension of the gold-mining operations in this