QUESTION OF RENTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4327, 7 October 1921, Page 3

QUESTION OF RENTS

FREEHOLD MINING LEASES. COUNTY COUNCIL OBJECTION. The Deputy Mining Registrar Mr Collier Waihi wrote as follows :— . - “Referring to your inquiry dated 12th inst., re the above, I have in reply to state that quite recently the Warden was asked his opinion on the matter, as an application had been made for rent on the various lands under Mining Lease, and later held under M.D.L.C. and freehold. The following is an extract from the Warden’s reply : “I have looked carefully into the matter, and I am of ' opinion that thorp is nothing in the Land Act or its amendments which can be contrued to reserve such rents to the Crown once a freehold has been acquired in accordance with the Act. I have also ascertained that it has been the practice at Paeroa for some years past, where there are numerous freeholds of this sort, to apportion. the rents fbm such claims amongst, owners of such freeholds. The matter has evidently, therefore, been the subject of a previous ruling, with which I agree.” Or. P. Grace said the matter was a serious one for the County Council. Goldfields revenue was set aside for the Council to look after roads and tracks, for purely mining purposes. If this revenue was to be taken away and given to private individuals, where was the Council; to get the money to make the roads in ;the mining areas ? Cr. S. H. Morgan also strongly protested against the giving of 7s 6d an acre to private individuals, •to the detriment of the Council. On the mption of Cr. Grace, second- . ed by Cr. Morgan, the clerk was instructed to send_ protes’.s to the Minister of 'Mines and Mr H. PolandM.P.' for Ohinemuri.