MR. MASSEY AND THE LI.P. COAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1913, Page 6

MR. MASSEY AND THE LI.P. COAL

The Prime Minister has broken ailenco on the subject of the Southland lease-in-perpetuity incident, but the argument is no farther forward. He said on Friday evening that he had referred ,tho matter to the Crown Law Officers, but tho statement that he made was "as a layman" ; and it is bo clouded with hazy general notions about this section 1 or the other one, that the only effect is to confuse the issue. If Mr. Mftssey really wiehee to be definite, he might, with the aid of the Crown Law Officers, answer a few specific questions. Has this Southland lessee-in-perpetuity, by taking advantage of Mr. Maesey'e Land Act, obtained tho freehold, and with it the right to mine the coal, on payment of surface- value only? Has his freehold title issued, and has the Government any power to prevent it issuing in view of sub-section 5 of section 31 of Mr. Massey's Act, which appears to lay down that the giving by a lessee of notice of his intention to purchase constitutes a contract? Tho Prime Minister's statement that his section 31 empowers the owner of a lcase-in-pevpetuky to pn/* chase the fee-simple or freehold "of tho iafid..somj)jiaed in«tke leaae^ anl does ,

not empower the lessee to purchase mineral right 6 not covered by his lease, ignores the question whether the fee simpie in itself gives the right to mine the coal, There are a, number of other questions arising, but definite answers to the above would advance the argument considerably. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister promises new legislation on the matter next session. Ho denies that the law has failed, but says he must make it clear. \ There is no hole in tho kettle, but they are going to patch it.