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Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1929, Page 4

Tiik Minister of Justice is to he eompi.menied on his j.iam reply to those complaining wun respect to sawdust in rivers. This matter we had thought had bodi a mica lily settled as between the Acclimatisation Society and the .I.diets, by a truce being arranged to nv.u! depus.ls during the whitebait season, liowovor smite irivspousioip parties have thought well to approach die Government, .and the responsible Minister has given a reply which makes it dear Air Wiliord appreciates the position, and its real import. The saWildlling industry is of tuo much importance to \\ estland to* he unduly harrassed by those who have a penchant merely for complaining about others. 'J lie industry is the mainstay of tue district in regard to employment, and is an immense feeder to the railway in freight. Were it blocked as some of those c. mpiaining would wish, the pinch would be felt quickly ny all and sundry. Some remark has been made about the fines inflicted. In re ailing the cases, it appears to us that the authorities perhaps at the instigation of those complaining, have favoured one particular sawmill, while all the mills are more or less offenders at times—as was pointed out in the Magistrate’s Court, ft is reasonable to think the Stipendiary Magistrate weighed the position as it is, and imposed fines in keeping with the special circumstances. Certainly on those grounds Air Milford iusti..od his occupancy of the office of Minister oi Justice, in refusing to interfere with the ' our so of justice. As regards the arrangement accepted by the Acclimatisation Society with the millers, we believe it is being respected by the parties concerned, and sawdust is not dumped into the streams irrespective of o mil it ions. In flood • time when the river affords a suitable opportunity for clearance, ■ the sawdust is disposed of. That is within reason, and in the interests of the economical working ol tin* industry should not be taken exception to. Tlie protest which has been made, appears to have been quite unofficial and irresponsible. It was not wo understand, made with the consent of the association which those connected with the whitebait industry have formed. Such being the case, it is well indeed that the complaint found little encouragement in the appeal to the Minister. Looking to. all the circumstances of the case, and having the welfare of the milling industry prominently before us, we certainly feel the Acclimatisation Society has acted reasonably and wisely in this matfer. and the compact with the millers should lie observed by all concerned as in the best interests of the progress ol the district ns a whole.