COAL COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10281, 16 May 1919, Page 5

COAL COMMISSION

DUGAL RIGHTS j "THE DARK, BACKWARD AND ABYSM OF TIME." WEALTH AND STARVATION LABOUR. By Telegraph—Press As*ociation.—Copyright Australian and > T .Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 8. Beforo the Coal Commission, the Duke of Hamilton's agent gave evidence stating that the titles of the Ducal lands had their origin in Crown grants, the earliest of which was given by Robert Bruce in 1315. There were an enormous number of other charters, and altogether the titles numbered hundreds. Mr Smillie asked the -chairman to appoint counsel to investigate the title deeds if it were impossible to produce them for examination by the Commission. ■• ■ ... Tho question was raised as to wiietncr the Act entitled tho Commission u> make such an investigation or merely to examine the incidence of the royalties. The Chairman promised a private discussion on the matter. The agent contradicted Mr bmilUo» statement that tho late Duke's income was £240,000, and added that the present Duke's income was £IO,OOO wlien be succeeded to the title. Mr Smillio asserted that the miners on tho Hamilton estate had worKeU for forty years practically on the verge of starvation, and living under horrible conditions. , HOUSES 300 YEARS OLD. Tho Duke of Hamilton's agent admitted that there were some very indifferent houses, three hundred years old, just outside the Hamilton palace, but ne could not say that tour, five, and six persons lived in each apartment. The Duke of Northumberland gave evidence that he owned ..mineral rights over 24,450 acres, and royalties had yielded a net average income for six years of £55,391. His gros3 income last year was £82,450, on which duties and dues had amounted to £58,560, including £452,153 for supertax. The property had been acquired py giants; purchases, and settlements, - and the first purchase dated back to 13<Jy. OPPOSITION TO NATIONALISATION. Tho Duke of Northumberland said he would be opposed to nationalisation, because it would be the first step towards a deadlier and more drastic move, namely, the nationalisation,, ot land and all sources of production and industry. Ho admitted that ho would claim all the coal on his property, even if science made it possible to mine to a depth of twenty thousand feet. It would be a bad thing to give a million miners control of the coal, hut he thought it an excellent thing for one man to own the mineral rights on 24,450 acres. The Marquis of Londonderry gave .evidence that he owned 580Q.-,acr l es,,/Ol Durham • coalfields. • His aVeragei''income from royalties was £9608, and from way-leaves £5726. He had acquired all the property by purchase. He was opposed to nationalisation, and believed in private property. He declared himself to be an individualist. (Applause.)