The Wairoa Bell. AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDAY, MAY 26th.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 199, 26 May 1893, Page 5

The Wairoa Bell. AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDA Y, MAY 26th.

Whether the Gum fields C ora mission be an electioneering move, as some say, or not is quite a matter of indifference to those interested. We knew that the Government did not move in the matter until considerable pressure had been brought upon them from various quarters. The gumfields have been ot immense benefit to the Colony and its people in times of depression, and the value of the kauri gum ex ported is of such magnitude that it may well be a matter of surprise that the Government have not before made a move in the direction now taken. Kauri gum has been a most valuable Colonial assett and yet little or no attention has been paid to its workings, The industry is chic fly confined to ‘ the poor neglected North ’ and perhaps in this lies the reason of its having been neglected by the Government. If the Austrians render us no other assistance, we can at least thank them as being the means of drawing Government attention to our gumfields, The Commission lias teen appointed, and we trust the enquiry made into the nature and mode of working our gumfields will be searching and full so that real good may result from the Commission. There are many questions requiring settlement which the Commission may assist in County Councils are calling for a tax on diggers to be devoted to the repair of County roads, and in some cases appear to look upon diggers very much as the latter

look upon aliens. Some settlers in the back country are often put to considerable trouble and annoyance by diggers who will not respect their rights of property ; and there are, too, many settlers who but for the gum lying around could not have maintained themselves on their sections; and again there are areas of Crown lands which are only made marketable because of their proximity to gum lands. Many other points might be raised to show the im - portance of the enquiry about to be made. The best means of preventing a rush of aliens to the gumfields, or of making them contribute something for what tbey receive must of course be considered. This question has been pretty freely considered locally and the plan reost favourably received is that a small license fee should be charged for the right to dig gum either on private or Crown Lands, and that licenses slmuld be issued only on certain conditions of residence.