Our Gum Reserves.

Northland Age, 6 September 1904, Page 2

Our Gum Reserves.

TO THE EDITOR. ' Dear Sir,—-Will it surprise “ Ratepayer,” or anyone else connected with the Mangonui County, that 1 am engaged as a Collector, and, though I may ; no claim on" my services except ‘as a f.’nawtona County Office, Mangonui, 2n4 Sept., 1904. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have been a resident of the northern giunlields for the past 0 years. Two years of this time I have been on the Rangiawkia holds, and I have always 'Wfctejiy gjumdiggerhs license; but I lmcgjAf do nofyb land W fe* ' 'At • the.\pr crept.thee f : '/'P diggers oil Avlfat' ; sula fields, and I can one half of these have a license to dig'* l gum. The collector, I presume, is Mr. Nawton, but that is only a question, as I have not once seen or heard of him being round this way. Granted that we (the diggers) are supposed to go to Mangonui for a.license. I think it would be only bis (the collector's) duty to visit the fields to seo that no breaches of the Kami Gum Act were being committed. I have watched the, proceedings in the Eaifaia and Mangonui Courts for the past two years, and I can safely say that there ' have not been six persons summoned for breaches of the. Kauri Gum Act during that time, which I think is a crying shame. Another thing I would like to

point out is that a number of natives, yes and Europeans also, come from other districts for the summer months; they dig for about four months and leave again, and they are never troubled about ‘a license. Now, is this fair? I would suggest that the dillerc-nt storekeepers be allowed to collect the licenses, but on second thoughts tlm storekeepers 1 hemeel ves are ay big offenders as the gumdiggers, for when they purchase gum they never (or very seldom) ask the digger to produce his license. The right man to be ranger is the policeman of the district, for I am of opinion under his watchful eye (I am speaking from experience now, as I have bought a few shares in the different courthouses myself) not many of the offenders would escape. With such sound and long-headed men as we have on our Council, I do not know how this evil has existed so long, but there is still time to trim their lamps and be ready, as the gum is far from being worked cut. In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I wish to congratulate you in your new undertaking, and am pleased to see that we have at least one live man amongst us, Please send my paper regularly, as I look forward to it. Herewith please find my year’s subscription. [Thanks.- - Ed.* ('.2'.] I trust I have not encroached too much on your valuable space, but by inserting 1 the above you will oblige MANY GUMDIGGEES. P.S.—lf Mr. Nawton will contradict through your paper, I will then send him my address, and will be only too pleased < to act as a witness in any oases that come ' to my knowledge.—M.G. 28/8/04. ' :