HON W. VEITCH

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1929, Page 3

HON W. VEITCH

MINISTER OF MINES. VISIT TO HOKITIKA. DEPUTATIONS AT TOWN HALL. The Hon W. Ycitch, Minister of Mines, who arrived yesterday at.midday and later visited the Rimu dredge and Lake Kanicri in the afternoon, received deputations at the Town Hall in the evening at 7.45 o’clock. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr W. Jeffries) presided, the Minister being accompanied by -Mr J. O’Brien AI.P., Mr A. H. Kimlicll (Under-Secretary of Mines). Mr F. Sherwood (private secretary) and Miss Foster, (tvpiste). The Hon H. L. Michel, M.L.C.. Messrs K. A. Wells (County Chairman), J. A. Murdoch (M.C.C.), Dr Teicbelmann (Progress League). H. A. Bauckc (Rimu Miners’ Association) and a good number of other citizens were also present. The Deputy-Mayor in extending a welcome to Hon Air Veitoh, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr Perry). Air Jeffries expressed bis pleasure at being able to welcome their visitor and hoped bis stay in Westland would be a pleasant one. Hon H. L. Michel and Mr E. A. Wells (County Chairman) also extended a welcome to the Minister on bis first official visit. Hon. AY. Veitch expressed his appreciation of the kindly welcome given, and stated the pleasure it gave him to have come into the district. Air J. O’Brien ALP., then stated there were a number of matters that it was wished to place Indore the Alinister and bo call led on the several speakers selected to place their requirements before the Minister. COUNTY COUNCIL. The following matters were brong 1 forward on .behalf of the Westland County Council: Reconsideration ol the refusal by the Department of a subsidy to the Rimu sluicing. Air E. A. Wells said an application bad been made for a furtboi subsidy of £2OO, but it bad been turned down by the Departmcent. The party had spent £1766 themselves anil also the previous subsidy ol £260. I hev were bonafide and had spent all they were able to do. The letter of the Under-Secretary of Mines was read to which the County Council had taken exception, inasmuch as the Under-Sec-retary had replied, ami not the Alinister to whom the letter was addressed. Hoad extension to Dillman’s Power Station, estimated cost £600: Air J. A. Alurdoch said the Almister had seen lor himself what the Company had been doing. The road was a necessity for the Company and the district. 'I ho Council bad endorsed the application of a grant for £6OO. Air Alurdoch read another letter which had been sent by the Council to the Alinitser of Mines, but which had been replied to by the l udei-Sec-retary. wherns the Council desired a reply from the AI mister himself. The complaint was not a personal one, but the Council took exception to what had happened, and so had resolved to place their view before the Alinister. Improvement of Three and Five Alile tracks, Okarito, £IOO, £ for £: Air W. Jeffries spoke in support of improvements to Three Alile and I* ivo Aide tracks. They asked for a £ for £ grant. The next day they would also be visiting Okarito and would bear more particulars. Another matter of very great importance was the question of preventing the eroding of the Little AVangnnui river, whore there was a very grave danger of valuable farm land being irretrievably ruined. Great damage bad al.eady been done by recent Hoods. The .Minister would be visiting the ground tne next day. Revision of prospecting regulations with a view to increased rates in keeping with present day costs for plant and material: The County Chairman snid bis subject was of vital importance to the district. The prospecting regulations were always small, but with the increased cost of working it was poorer than ever. Now the allowances were of no use at all and he hoped that every possible consideration be given. Reduction of fees for mining application and rights to encourage prospectors and mining enterprises: Air Alurdoch said be bad prepared a. list of the fees of 1861, 1908 and those at present in force. An application that in 1861 cost 6s, in 1608 cost £2 8s and at present it cost £6 6s. Other instances of other rights and increased charges were quoted. Ho protested strongly against the increased charges and asked that they be revised. WESTLAND PROGRESS LEAGUE. Dr Teicbelmann said Air Veitch was going south and would have the opportunity of seeing what ’South Westland was worth from a scenic point ol view. He asked for further assistance in improvements in loading, and also for further publicity of Westland's glories, which he felt sure a visit would ensure his forming the opinion that it was worth while. AIR. VEITCH REPLIES. Hon AV. Abb tell said lie had come to hear what the people had to say of their difficulties. Referring to what had been said of the Under-Secretary of Alines, Air Veitch said it was perfectly true that a letter written to the ATiriitsor, was entitled to a reply from him. At the time that the letters were written there was no Minister, but when lie took office lie was buried under a mass of correspondence. The Minister recounted the conditions that had arisen. It has been his experience since lie bad been a ATinister. tlint the Un-der-Secretary bad not attempted to usurp bis duties, in any ease that bad come under bis knowledge. In reference to the consent fee charged.

whether tho fees were rc;ison;ilile or not, every charge went inio the Consolidated Fund. In connection with tlioßimu Sluicing Coy., if I'uriher evidence was supplied, reconsideration would be given. Hoad extension to Hillmans sub-sta-tion would he referred to the Minister of Puhlie Works. In regard to the Three and Five Mile .tracks, consideration would he given in the next Estimates. Revision of prospecting rates and regulations. These were to bo thoroughly considered from end to end to sc in what manner that they could he improved, and lie would he grateful to receive details for the improvement of the conditions of the industry. The question of reduction of fees would he carefully considered from every point of view. The erosion at Little- "Wanganui would lie visited the next day and referred to the Minister of Public Works. Replying to Dr Teiclidmann he promised consideration. He lmd always been impressed with the scenic beauties of the "West Coast. lie recognised the great scenic 'venders of Now Zealand unequalled in any part of the world, lie would forward the earnest representations to the Tourist Department. RIMU MINERS. Mr H. A. Bauckc extended, on behalf of the Rinni Miners’ Association, a welcome to the Coast, and addressed the Minister on matters afiecting the mining industry by the operations of the Forestry Department. He also asked that the aid to prospecting be ra.is liftv per cent, all round. That a prosIK'oting party composed of from two to four members be allowed to take up and bold for one year, .fifty acres, without being put to the loss and delay of making application in the Warden’s Court, and without paving rent,, anything over fifty acres to la* applied for in the ordinary way. the rent to hr (id an acre, and that the rent on a •peeial claim lie Is Cd per acre the first year. 2s fid the second year and os for every year after. Hon Voiteh said he was very much interested in the vigorous appeal made by Mr Baueke on general principles of prospecting.' He was not in a position to reply, but bad already promised the whole mining regulations will lx* reviewed, and that ultimately they will ■■oino down, to some satisfactory arrangement for the encouragement < prospecting. The question of the altitude of local bodies in regard to a reliction of the revenue would have to be considered also. Mr O’Brien then thanked the Minister for his patient hearing and tho replies given to the various representations. A motion of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, moved by Mr Voiteh, terminated the meeting. DEPUTATIONS AT KCM All A. At Kumara on Thursday morning the Hon "\V. Veitcli received deputations. The Borough Council deputation firstmade representation as to the vatoc supply. Mr Spiers stating that an agreement- had been made with the Mines Department and the "Westland Power Board to deliver water into the 'lines The Mayor said that, despite this, they had found that whenever there was a fire in Kumara. the boi-->;igli had no supply of water to cheek it- available for them. Their new school was burned down, and also two other buildings, and had it not been for a bucket brigade, many of the houses would have been destroyed. He asked the Minister to see that the spirit of of the agreement made was carried out. and that water ho supplied for fire fighing purposes and for domestic use. although lie held that the water was not very good for domestic- use. Councillor J. Murphy also spoke, and said the water supply was a burning question in Kumar.a. Or Burrell also supported the request The deputation also asked lor a supply of the various application forms in connection with mining, and residence sites, to he kept at the Kumara Courthouse, or at the Post Office. The Mayor said the mining industry needed encouragement, and for miners to have to go to Hokitika for a miner’s right or a. form, was ridiculous. It was also requested that the local Police Constable or Postmaster be empowered to receive rent for mining areas and other mining privileges. They further asked for the Mines Department to fill up disused water races constructed in the borough by the Department, and that the ‘Courthouse, which was in had order, he repaired. They urged that the responsibility for the upkeep of the Zig-Zag Road bo vested in the Main Highways authorities. The Minister of Alines replied l.liaf Hie town supply of water seemed to him most likely to he settled by a conference between the Borough Council and the Wolsland Power Board. He would also go into the matter of tb< disused water races. As to tho Courthouse repairs, lie would bring that liefore the Minister of Justice. He would refer to the Minister of Public AVorks llic matters of Hie Zig-Zag Road and Toromakau bridge, urging that the requests he granted. The Kumara School Committee. (.Messrs Hamer and Burrell) brought up the question of a subsidy on Liu* money collected to buy books in place of those destroyed when (lie Kumara School was burned dpwn. Some ,£1() had been collected by the people, of which £l2 was used to replace the .school books winch were destroyed. On this the Canterbury Education Board refused a subsidy. A subsidy would only be allowed on the remaining £fi. They asked the Minister to use his influence with the Minister of Education to have a subsidy granted on the £lO. Consideration was promised the requests put- forward.