WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 635, 12 October 1909, Page 5

WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

SPIRITED PROTEST, FROM 'WEST COAST. An' important circular on tho question of water rights has been sent to members of Parliament by the Rimu Minora' , Association. -It .is interesting to note that its contents are ondorsed by the chairman of vthe Westland County anil the Mayors-of.-Boss, ' Hokitika, Kumara, Greymouth, and Brunnorton. After, outlining tho protracted negotiations which cook place with a view to inducing the Government to lease water powor for mining: purposes, tho circular goes on to say that now' fee ; not result was that drastic regulations had been devised by. which a most arbitrary, unjust,.and illogical discrimination was made between water, which would gravitate on to a goldfiold in the ordinary, simple, and inexpensive way, and water which nad to be pumped oh *to much more elevated ground by 'hydro-electric power: According to tie present regulations thero was a great difference in tho sort of. water used for sluicing, the taxation being in ■ inverse ratio to tho expense. .-If .it happened to bo the sort which naturally ran dowri'.hill, there could be no charge beyond-2s. Cd- for, the license, .or even ifit ran out of a most oxportsivo Government race it might actually be sold, and was so sold, at a considerable Toss ,to the country, "But if unhappily," tho■ circular proceeqs, "one lot of water is absolutely ; necessary to pump another lot to a higher : level' to work an otherwise unworkable eoWfield, then that particular fiort of water becomes immediately a groat national asset which'must *be taxed and all because it won't ruii up-hill ot its own accord. If, according'to , the Hon. Minister for Mines and the Publie'Works Department, the Government are not specially to tax theoo water rights, the people of the Dominion would suffer, and itVhaS'* come to pass that for the, privilege:of 'Utilising ,300 Reads of water (the power "of Vhieh has yet to be developed by, tho expenditure of at least ifilO.OOO) the promotes of this pioneer enterprize, the Toaroha Company; haye been summarily given the alternative of cither forgoing their claim and of losing their-money,or depositing J? s " l * with tho Government, subject to forfeiture in the event of their, not .succeeding in forming a mining company which will be, willing to pay a rental of £52.per week for water." ■ ■ ' •■ '.■•■'■.'■•' ■ .

" When it is considered that fllese most lingenerous terms have been:' followed ,ud after, a deposit of .£SOO with 'all, sbrU of red tape procedure and delaye,.the:prospect of inducing people with capital 'to undertake the business is becoming'.,remote. It is evident that something must" be radically wrong in the attitude of the Minister of the Mines and the Publio Works.Department over this matter, for in spite of Sir Joseph Ward's assurance of his private sympathy.and.encpuraeement, tho fact still, remains , that whore a Liberal Government formerly offered large land grants and a substantial subsidy, they are now penalising the. very same enterprise" with a forfeit of JCSOO and ,a.special; tax of J8& per we«k for waste water, which oiin'not possibly be utilised for any other purpose, than gold min"inc." The circular adds: 'fWe most respecti fully ask your most valuable assistance and ! co-operation in this matter. The'nresent water power regulations aro the,greatest-blow that has ever been given to the industry." It is explained that whereas , £10,000 -would ' bo required for developing power, the.total cost for equipment would, run into at .-least JMOO.OOO more. .' . .....,.' :.■■ . . .: Wp hear on' good authority that the capital is all readyfor thn.ToarohanCpmpahy, subject to there being satisfactory regulation and no .water tax. '■■■'■. "'■ :..j .