THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1684, 3 January 1873, Page 3

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

The following is a continuation of the report adopted by the Conference .— MINING BOARDS. The opinion of this Conference is that the miners are the best judges themselves of the ruleß and regulations by which they should be bound in the prosecution of their avocation, and they would ask the Government to appoint a board of miners for the province of Otago, to be elected by the miners from certain districts, which may be either defined by the miners or by order of the Governor in Council. That the Governor appoint from among the elected body a chairman. That power be given to said board to make rules and regulations in conformity with the Goldfields Act, which, on receiving the sanction and approval of the Governor in Council, may become the rules and regulations under any particular district or province of the goldfields. The mode of election, the time for which members should be elected, and the defining of the districts, may be safely left in the hands of the Government. ADMINISTBATIOW OF JUSTICE. The Conference, having considered carefully this subject, would recommend that the present system be entirely altered. Warden's Courts and officers were introduced in Australia, and imported from thence for the double purpose of raising revenue and dispensing justice. When these institutions were first introduced, the goldfields were occupied principally by a very different class of people from what they are now. Gold waß then got by little labor and expense, and large bodies of miners kept continually moving from place to place, to follow every new field that was discovered. It was no doubt necessary then that a special system of administratingjusticeshould beadopted, also that special taxation should be raised from among the miners to meet the expense. The goldfields are cow in possession of a more settled and enterprising class, who, by their energy and perseverance, are slowly succeeding in developing the mineral resources of the goldfields. The Warden's Courts in the early days of the goldfields were excusable, and, for revenue purposes, were properly employed ; but the population has now scattered and spread over the extensive area of our goldfields, and these courts are too numerous and expensive to make their functions as revenue offices a profit to the state. A reduction of this class of offices will enable the legislature to relieve miners from the pressure of a taxation which bears heavily on their industry. The Conference are of opinion that the common law courts in existence would meet the requirements of miners in matters between themselves, as between the general pdpalation of the country, leaving

( in the hands of the miners the adoption, if necessary, of courts of arbitration, which could deal with matters of dispute and which could be appealed from to the District Court of the province, if desired ; and aa most cases of any great importance or magnitude are now either finally settled by District or Supreme Courts, while arbitration has been used to settle cases even after being before these Courts, should the Government see their way to adopt some such principle, we believe they would confer a great boon on the miners ; but should Wardens and Warden's Courts be considered to be indispensable, wewould recommend the system proposed in the Gold Mining Bill, 1872, in preference to that now in existence, with a clause that in cases where the Warden, plaintiff, or defendant, may desire the assistance of assessors, that the Warden may summons them verbally from among persons in attendance and in the vicinity of the Court. We would also recommend that the fees and costs given in Warden's Courts be greatly reduced. MINING ON PBIVATE PBOPEBTY. The Conference would recommend that either part of the Gold Mining Bill referring to the above subject (excluding the Inspectorship clauses), or a separate bill, be introduced to provide for facilitating mining on private property. GENERAL. We have now enumerated most of what we consider to be necessary in framing laws for the miners ; and the sum and substance may be embodied in a few words — give the miners a legal right to mine and to prosecute their industry, give them a simple and secure title to all mining property, and deal with them as with other members of the community. AGRICULTURAL LEASING. The Otago Waste Lands Act of 1872, which will soon come into operation, embraces the above subject, and we are of opinion that it ought not also to be embraced in any Gold Mining Bill ; but though we admit that such leasing of lands on goldfields has been a source of great prosperity to the goldfields, it has, nevertheless, been attended by a considerable amount of evil, by locking up from the miners large tracts of auriferous lands. The Conference would desire to foster and facilitate settlement on the lands of the province ; but they are decidedly of opinion that rigid enquiry ought to be now held on all lands open for agricultural leasing, and mining reserves declared where considered necessary. It would be wise to give the mining interest the benefit of the doubt of any land that may be considered auriferous, though not actually proved so — that such lands should be exempted at least for a certain number of years. In opening new blocks of lands on goldfieldg, for which provision is made by the above Act, we would recommend that an enquiry, to be made public, should be held, and mining reserves, if desired, to be there and then set apart. PEAT BE SE BYES. The existence of peat in some districts of the goldfielda, and the fact of its being profitably used as fuel for the inhabitants, induces the Conference to recommend that section 91 of the Otago Waste Lands Act may be extended to give licenses of certain portions of crown lands for the raising of peat. COMMONAGES. ] The want of commonage for the miners and mining community has been greatly felt in many of the mining districts of Otago. The Conference would desire to record their approval of the course of the present Provincial Executive in endeavoring to meet the requirements of the people in one important district. We trust they will continue to endeavor to satisfy all demands for this purpose that j may be based on fairness. SALE OF LAND ON GOLDFIELDS. The Conference would recommend that any sale of lands on goldfields should be duly advertised in the local papers. A case in point in one particular district, which has come under our notice, which has caused great dissatisfaction, and gives a monopoly of rich auriferous land, hinges entirely on such sales being concluded without sufficient publication. GOLD EIPOBT DUTY. The Conference would submit their approval of the course of late legislation on this subject ; and now that the ice is broken, they trust the Government will find the ways and means without imposing this tax on the industry of the miners. The tax is unfair in its principle and unjust in its operations, and is moreover a class tax. The Conference is of opinion that the Government should place at the disposal of the mining associations, free of charge, the survey staff, (or the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of water schemes which the associations may deem feasible ; and, further, the Conference is of opinion that the rules under which subsidies can now be obtained are too stringent, and ahould be made more elastic, so as to include private parties ; also, that the subsidy, instead of being £2 to £1, should be £1 to £1. MINIBTEB OF MINES. The subject has only slightly come under consideration, and is no w left to be dealt with by the various miners' associations. That the goldfields of New Zealand are of sufficient importance to have a responsible head we admit ; but the two governing powers already in existence might thereby be made to conflict to a greater extent, and greater expenses might be the result. MINT FOB NEW ZEALAND. The Conference would endorse the recommendation of the Eoyal Mint Committee, made to the Government at last sitting of Assembly. FINAL. The Conference, having concluded the business of their present meeting, trust that the suggestions put forth will meet with the concurrence of the Government and of the people generally. ,