RAVAGES OF DREDGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 4

RAVAGES OF DREDGES.

"NOTHING LESS THAN CRIMINAL.*

The ravages of gold dredging in tearing up fertile river-flats were discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Tho question aroso out'of tho petition of a well-known old resident of Alexander, a pioneer digger on Otago gold fields. Long before the days of dredging he equatted on a section of around, and after he had finished goldhunting he improved his holding of som< 20 acres, and became n successful orchard., ist. Presently a company suspected that there was-gold under the orchard, and the company took tho land. .Tire sum paid! to the petitioner for his improvements was alleged to bo inadequate. At any rato tho trees and tho orchard are aft torn up now, ns nre lots of other rich spots of Otngo and Southland. These rich places have become lumpy wastes of clay and boulders, which after years grow a jungle of thistles and other noxious weeds, but no pasture. All tho members who had any knowledge of dredging work deplored tho short-sighted policy of destroying good laud, which would produce for nil timo, to win a littlo gold in the immediate present.Tho Prime Minister said that the mafc< ter was one of great importance. The destruction of agricultural laud in, some districts in Otago was nothing less than criminal. The loss was really greater than tho value of the land. Indeed it eimply could not. bo estimated. Tho matter was ono that concerned tho Mining Department. It was provided in the Mining Act that a warden "may" mato regulations for preventing the destruction. That provision, ho thought, should be made mandatory. Tho 'petition was recommended to the Government by the committee for favorable consideration.