THE GAZETTED MINING REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 545, 28 June 1909, Page 2

THE GAZETTED MINING REGULATIONS.

'•'. ■;•■' : : }^r: "~^r~—*—'rrfr-J; ■'•s>; ; £L .yT6o>-MUCH> POWER .IN'-ONE -mSts'!; ;;: ':'. ; (By\Tdograiih,f Press'AßsociaUonV'; i'U ;; ■■! T ;- : '-"', V-:'- ::: o"v^>f^"'" ; Hokltlfta ( --.'Jniie--2^''.' /_la speaking at'the public; meetwg,\held', at Kumara on Friday night for- ! the purpose of' protesting against the mming; regulations recently gazetted, the Mayo» (Hi., J: A.' 'Murdoch),who. is a well-known lawyer; said thai hei took great .exception: to- the regulations which gave the,; Minister the.'"8olo;-right' to grantor- refuse 'an application: it :was ■* dangerous Weapon in the hands';of anyvone :man'.'.-- "■; Ever',' since'-: tho > goldfields ; had.: been open, proper tribunals and courts had existed ,tp' heaf; and: grant: applications/'■'•.This right was: how taken away: from the- people; 1 the •Minister' now had .'an absolute' veto,' which was-Wt. democratic.- Why was not "the same' nght : givon -to'the-Minister-for -Lands'»6r any'othef Minister controlling', a Department'' ; to; parcel, oiit .'anyiJiing: elseK,;,,..Thfly;jmight. - think that the regulations-wero-framed'by'. the - G ovornor 7 in-Council, but/it; appeared;:' to' . him thatthey were'neyer thought out.'. They were deliberately; taking away. tbe v right of : the peopled';■ ITormerlyi if a reversal was mot; with in the - Warden's '...Court; an application could be' taken-to-the Supreme, Court,; but ' now?.t-he.;Minister,,'even, tor;political, pur-'; poses; could -.refuse' 1 ah .'application. ■■--. \ ' In regard; to the question of monopoly,'it wasVeasily' answered in a few seconds. Mining l laws;;, prevented ' monopoly, because' every. aero .-of', ground, had to' be manned/;,' Ho' thought wiat-.tho TegulatibnS: could not'.be . fappliodto.both'islaridß.-/ The'streams; k'the North Island for developing power were few, ■ :while,i'on tho,West Coast;'they could be met '■> ■ wjth'ln:overy"five minutes' rtalk.;:- ; *.■;'-,.;': : ' : !The' speaker wont';'on''.to:.,corripare'the\ mining depression, on .'the coast 'with: that of' the, mining depression at Reoftpri, in l lß9s:' The la'to Premier'passed,a Bill, (the-Mining Act 'Amending; Bill) giving greater- facilities for opening.'up; country aifficult; of-,' access.. He made it.possible for 640 acres to be 'taken. up underjone/license... ..Mr. /Ziman.'then, apf poared in Reef ton, .and took. advahtagoof this liberal Act;' the' result of; which was wellknown 'in Rcefton now; • 'Mi - .'Murdoch' suggested that tho Minister)Bhould,bo.asked-to vary .tho' regulations respecting -the".North and -South Islands, -the .conditions, being so' different. '..'A'slaprecedont, ho mentioned the Fenoing Act and other Acts relating ,to mattcrs; which differed in both islands;' 'He strongly' objected to the Minister. for. Mines having-such a power in, his "own'hands; "It must tend to drive ; capital out of the : Dbi mohion.' : :.';'-;--■ .-. >,':■/'