THE GOVERNMENT AND GOLDFIELDS MATTERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2635, 16 February 1885, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT AND GOLDFIELDS MATTERS.

[to the editor.]

Sir—l was much pleased with the Premier’s lecture on Saturday night, but it struck me when listening to him speaking on the Land question that it may not be to the advantage of the settler to have the State for a landlord unless the State acted in a different manner toward them than what it has done to us on this goldfield. Now I bold that the State going into trade here has been a failure, and has not given satissfaction to anybody concerned, To illustrate my meaning I look on the State as our landlord, as they hold all the available water-sup-ply to this field, and have it in their power to charge us any price they like, or stop the supply altogether, which would be more disastrous to us than

giving us a notice to quit. So you will see that we are in the same position as tenants at will to a landlord, and, in

fact, a worse position, as we have no redress at law, and the Government being the owneis of the water-supply on which five-sixths of the people are dependent here, have been mercilessly grinding every penny they can get out of the miner, instead of fostering and encouraging an industry that has put over .£40,000,000 worth of gold in circulation in a little over twenty years to the general advancement of the whole colony, and I hold has done twice as much to develop the colony as any other industry in it.

But to return to the water question. Let me remind you of the way we have been treated by. the past Governments in this matter. I contend we have used every legitimate means in empower to impress on the Government the absolute necessity ol reducing the price of water here, but without effect. Now, to show that we should have been belter treated by a company or private individual I onlv need instance Mr Holmes, the proprietor of the

Oknku water-race, as no sooner was he asked to lower his price than he did so, and he, being personally acquainted with what the men were getting, knew that the ground was not good enough to bear such a heavy expense, and give the men a fair return for their labour. "Not so the Government: after showing facts and figures that would have convinced any fair-minded man that to give us a fair wage for our labour we could not pay such an exorbitant price for water, they still demand thenpound of flesh; and business men who provide the miner with the necessaries of life, and material to work his claim with, often have to stand out of their money for years, and sometimes do not get it at all. Therefore I think it would have been to the advantage of everbody on this goldfield if the State had not entered into trade here, as, being the vendors of water, I call it trading. The next subject of importance is the relief tail-race. I think the Minister will see the necessity of at once proceeding with that work, as at present, with the long days we cannot get water to work full time, and soon we shall only be able to work half time or three days a week, which means men with large families running into debt. There is one other question I would like to say a few words on : that is the big fall. Now I think it unfair to the men to compel them to reduce their grade when reducing their water would have the same effect, as with a smaller quantity of water they could not put so large a quantity of stuff through their boxes, nor injure other parties who have as good a right as they have; neither would it deprive them of the advantage they have now got, as they would have less to pay for water. Hence I think this the fairest way to deal with the matter.—l am, &c.,

William Morris, Diliman’s, February 15, 1885.