THE PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2380, 15 April 1884, Page 2

THE PROPOSED NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL.

[to the editor.] Sir—lt is matter for regret that the Government cannot approach the subject of the working of the sludge-chan-nel in a fair and equitable spirit. ' The result of the proposed new regulations, were they put in force in their entirety, would be to effectually cripple sixteen of the pioneer parties of the channel, while the remainder—mostly backnumber men—would have greater facilities than ever for blocking the channel. There is no attempt to interfere with those parties whose permits are in force, while the sixteen parties whose permits are held to have expired, or that will expire in June, are not only told that their original permits cannot be renewed, as promised by the manager, but they are also asked to abandon their certificates for their tail-races connecting with the channel and granted by the Warden, and to take out others subject to these new regulations ; thus severing the last legal right that they have. And to what end ? Simply that those whose permits are in force—backnumber men and fore-number men alike—shall have a monopoly of the whole things Not content with asking that sixteen parties shall abandon their present certificates, the regulations further insist that a nine-inch gauge shall be imposed on those sixteen parties, besides being compelled to reduce their fall to a little over 8 inches to the box. Since the first rule of the new regulations will secure to the holders of original permits their right to send anything down their boxes will carry, I cannot see the justice of crippling some that others may have a monopolv.-r How unworthy of a Government that should be fair in its dealings with public matters to fasten on to a few parties with an iron grasp that means to most utter ruin, simply because through inadvertence there is supposed to be a legal loophole to get out at, and it is only supposed, as it has never been tried in Court. And bad I the means, I would find out whether the pledged word of a Government official that a permit was renewable could be held binding or not. v' I frankly admit that an equality of grade is the only fair solution of the sludge-channel difficulty, and if the proposed grade is enforced, there remains no necessity for harassing people with the absmrd idea of sluicing through a grating of any size, shape, form, or fashion. Let the Government approach the question in an honourable way; and if they cannot do something to reform the present unsatisfactory state of affairs, then in Heaven's name leave it alone altogether, and not resort to the despicable practice of pitting one section of the community against the other.-< I would suggest that each party interested draw out objections to the new rules as they find they will affect themselves, and appear * before the Warden in support of their several objections; and I have no doubt the justice of our cause, and the sound common sense ot our Warden will prevail against the most flagrant part of the injustice sougnt to bn imposed upon ns. RiuiiT, hut Might,