The Stats Goal lines

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1110, 4 October 1904, Page 3

The Stats Goal lines

Land Monoply

Whole Township Held by Speculators

Miners Deprived of Sections

On his return to Groymouth on Saturday, after tho jubileo festivities at Hokitika, the Premier was waited on by the miners employed in tho State coal mines, who complained that they could not get homes near tho mine. They statod that a number of men, who had found employment in tho mine, had built themselves homos on-allotments of land near tho pit, being given to understand by the authorities that they would not bo shifted. Thoy had now boeu informed by tho Lands Department that they could noc remain on that land, and that they must romove their homes at onco. They could not go to the township laid out near "the mine, because all tho good sections had beon taken up by spceiilator?, who were now demanding high priees for tbo transfer of thoir leases. Thoy claimed that pcoplo who had put homos on tho land at considerable cosi should bo given soino consideration. After questioning the men as to tho details of the matter, Mr. Seddon called upon Mr. G, W. Roberts, Commissioner of Crown Lands, to state tho Department's case, Mr. Roberts said that the men who hud squatted ou the land close to tho mine had beon told at the timo they could not stay, but no further efforts had been made to move them until the proper township had beon laid oil, The best sections had all boen taken up, but very few of them by miners, The remaining fie*lions wore quito suitable, however, as all tho streets wcro being cleared of bu?h, and tho main ones formed, and a contract would shortly bo let for tbo main road to tho minn, It was impossible to allow tho squiiilem. to remain whero they were, for health rca. sons, Tho Government had not agrood to immediately cion>- and form roads when tbo aw lions were titkon tip.

Tho J'loinicr: Thj position is that speculators urn folding these sections and keeping out bona J liilo miners. If that m ao I will see that nut imollier oonny is spent on tho roads, This township was laid out in order to provide homes for the inni''V , iimHlMiiiiiHviioiisot the Govern--1,. , i ■ I briuicntiroiytliwiirted.

„, . .lubcrlisaid that the wuld not o.iUuu transfer.! incept fivm :lie Land Board, which would noi grant them. There were occupation conditions in tho leases, but the regulation allowed three years grace, Mr Siiddon then gavo tho Commissioner instructions to lay out a block of sections on tho coal reserve between the township and tho mine, theso sections to remain under the control of the Mines Department, and be let to minors only. )Jc said that ho would ask tho Minister for Mines to allow tho squatters to remain on the ground they then occupied until tho new sections waro ready for occupation, '.''lie squat-tors would all havo to move, however, and tbore would ho no clioucc of I'.ny compensation. In regard to the permission they slated they hud obtained from Crown officers,' and otbor matters, he would make a close inquiry, The miners asked if tho Government would give them ut section on which to place 11 BOciaHm!l,as at present tho only incr 'ng placo was the hotel, The Premier re) - d that ho would be happy to recommend 10 gtauting of a silo for such a purpose, It

was a scandal audasbamo tliat ,m ho'cl had been alliwod there, It had been put there by mentis which to his mini wore reprehensible, and those who had been responsible had not yet heard the last uf the matter.