THE MINES ACT, 1877, AMENDMENT BILL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2584, 3 October 1884, Page 2

THE MINES ACT, 1877, AMENDMENT BILL.

The following is the Wellington Evening Post’s version of Mr Guinness and other goldfields members’ action, in the House on the 2 5th ult., relative to the Mines Act, 1877, Amendment Bill, particulars of which appeared in this journal on the 29th ult:— A somewhat singular course has been adopted to show that the feeling of the House is in favour of a particular Bill being discussed. No less than fifty members have signed a letter to the Premier as follows :—“We the undersigned members of the Plouse of Representatives desite that you will give the member for Kumara (Mr Seddou) an opportunity, this session, of having the Mines Act, 1877, Amendment Bill further considered.” The Bill in question provides for a reduction of the fee for miners’ rights to 10s instead of £l, and of business license fees from £o to

£2 per annum. In committee it is proposed to give wardens power to order the construction of tunnels through mining leaseholds by others than the lessees, on payment of compensation, to be settled by arbitration, and it is also intended to give power to the Governor to declare certain districts open for prospecting, and-to issne prospectors’ licenses, authorising persons to search for gold on lands owned by natives, private lands, and Crown lands, within such districts. The cause of this Bill not coming on for discussion on Thursday evening last was owing to the opposition of Mr Guinness and one or two other goldfields’ members. That such opposition should arise is inexplicable, seeing the same members strongly supported the Bill on its second reading, and also sent in a written request to the Premier, asking the Government to support the measure, and to which the Government consented. The method adopted to prevent the Bill from coming on for discussion was very ingenious, and whilst being equally effective, as though a motion to read the Bill this day sis months had been carried, yet those opposing do not in Hansard, or publicly appear to have opposed at all. Shortly put, the modus operandi is as follows : One of the standing orders provides that no new business shall be taken after 12.30 p.m. One or two Bills ahead of the one selected to kill are fully debated. Mr Guinness elected to speak for three-quarters of an hour on the Eight Hours Bill, which was No. 2on the Order Paper; another long speech was made on the Seaman’s Franchise Bill, and half-past 12 arriving. No. 4 could not come on, and it is now No. 34 on the Order Paper. Mr Hursthouse in a jocular way, pointed out clearly what Mr Guinness’s game was, and soon the House understood why the verbose infliction had to be borne. Mr Seddon also fully exposed tjhe whole thing. Mr Guinness is chairman of the Grey County Council. The Bill would reduce the county revenue.