Meeting of Borough Council

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1117, 12 October 1904, Page 2

Meeting of Borough Council

,— -* Land Tenure Proposals

Referred to Committee of Whole Council 4 special meeting of Hie Waihi Borough Council was held Inst night to consider the question of the land tonurc, Present! His Worship the Mayor, anil Councillors Donaldson, Brown, Henderson, Katz, Foster and Newth. Or, Katz moved time the report he received und Ihe clauses taken soiiatuw. He suggested that Cr. Donaldson read and explain Hie different paragraphs. He was sorry to seo that Councillor Slcvin and Saunders were absent, li appeared lo him they wanted to shirk the question, Or. Foster said that as far as Cr. Slevin 'was concerned lie know that that gentleman had a previous engagement, and that in consequeneo ho could not attend the mteting tlint night. Cr. Kutz's proposal was ngt'ccd to. Cr, Donaldson then proceeded, after a brief explanation of the business in hand, to read the tirst claftse, which was as follows :—" 1. That the cwnor of a residence site hold it by payment of rent, and that miners' rights in connection therewith be abolished." He urged the desirability of payment by reiil, instead of taking.'out miners' rights, Under the present system nno was liable to over-look the time when the renewal of tho miner's right becamo due; whereas, by paying its equivalent in tho shapo of ront, tho money could ho paid any time during the year, without any risk of losing tho section. He considered tho adoption of the rent system would in every way be an advantdgo Indeed, ■ thero was no reason for minors' rights at

Cr. Kniz moved as an amendment Hint the clause he deleted. At ihia moment the lights went out and the roo.u was plunged m darkness. Some live minutes later the light was restored. Cr. Nowtli seconded tlio amendmonl, and on the Mayor putting it to the mooting the amendment was carried by 5 to 2, Clause 2.—" That it he mado perfectly clear tliat personal residenco on a resit denco pito is not absolutely necessary." Cr. Donaldson explained that this section of the Act which required personal occupation, had never been interpreted by tlio Wavden, A man could have more than ono section at the discretion ot tlio Warden. Ho did not think tlio clause was

perfection, but it was an improvement, and unless something better could bo suggested Im 'bought it a reasonable amend'

meiit. 1 lie present titlo was a relic of tho pist, and dated hack to tho old nlluvial goldliclds. It was timo thf people awoke up and inadi an effort to got better titles for their holdings. Waihi should lmvo at all events as good titles as goldfields' townships in tho South Island, Die clause should commend itself to tho Council. Mr Km moved that the clause bs doletod. He said that previous to fivo years ago leases of residence sites were only for 21 years, Tho lease had now been increased to 42 years, and under the lease personal occupation was required. The recommendation was an attempt to filch something from tlio working man. It would bo pernicious and wickid to countenance tlio proposal. It would permit people km Auckland to como here and buy up any number of sections in Waihi, Cr. Foster said that Cr, KM'/, had pulled to pieces the coimnittco's proposals in a ruthless manner. Any fool could pull a building down, but it required a tradesman to build it up Cr. Ktttz in his slashing process had mado no proposals. Ho (Cr. Foster) bad spoken to several people in the town o:\ tlio subject, and they weie all agreed thai the prosent titles wore bad and most unsatisfactory. Ho pointed out that if tho Warden wero to administer the law strictly it would bo a veiy serious thing lor the working men and everybody olso in Waihi, There wero numbers of miners, who wanted accommodation, and inn being in a position to build (or themselves, had to rely on others building for them. Cr Newth supported the amendment. 110 considered personal residence was absolutely necessary. He did not behove in peoplo holding any number of sections. He knew of where babies in ihoir cradles held sections in their names. Cr Donaldson, in reply, wanted to know how the man who bad not tho means could got accommodation unless another man built lor him. It was tho who owned Waihi, and ho would continue to own Waihi as long as the titles continued as they were, by which mon bad to pay Id per cent, for money borrowed to build. Tho iimendmont was carried by five to two.

Or, Donaldson said lie would liko to know if tho Council -had any proposal to make. Eo did not think ii worth his whilo to waste any moro timo on tho Committee's proposals, It was evident tho Council was not satisfied with them. Ho would surest that Crs, Newtl), Katz, Brown and Henderson be asub-comunitce to mako proposals that would better tho existing lilies. The committoo had done its host hy way of smjgestinp; improvements, hut those of tho Council present would havo nono of it. Tlie Mayor said he would surest thai an improvement could bo m'ado by having ondorscmcnis removed frjm the titles, Cr, Donaldson then road tho next clause: " That a limit in area he inado by which ono person may hold not moro than U acres within ut mile of tho Post Office, in any uumber of rusidcnco sites, and a further '2 acres outside that radius." Cr.Kai'/, moved lli.-illho elanso bo do. loted, Ho considered that tho existing law was belter (ban the proposals of tho sub-connnitlco, As lovol-hoadcd men tho eounnitloo should have known that their recommendations would ho worse than tho existing conditions, Cr, Donaldson posed as tho champion of tho workers, and ho (tho speaker) \yn sur-" prised thai he should ho a parly to such ' proposals, Or. Nott'lh seconded.

Or, Foator said that tho proposals woro ■undo simply for tho purpose of olfeotiiiß on improvement on (he present stuto of affairs, Or Kiilz was like tho Irishman who said "I'm agin il,"but he offered no proposal for betterment, Ho was bound to support tho proposal till ho had something better to go on, (Jr. Nowtb, in speaking on the question, suggested that the Minister of Minoa be asked to appoint a commissioner lo enquire into tho endorsements on ntlos, with \\ view of getting thorn removed. He intended lo oppose th? Mining Bill at presont before the Rouse, and ho would not ask that (ho proposals now boforo tho mooting be included in it.

The amendment was curried by 5 to 2 Cr Jul?, moved that tho meeting bo adjourned and tho question referred to a commitleo of tho whole Council, with tho inclusion of tho Borough Solicitors Or Foster said he would second tho proposiiion. It soouji i to him that tho snb-committoo's propyls did not givo satisfaction, but while their proposals had not met with .ipproval, tboro woro no suggest'ons from ihoso wli J opposed the subcommittee's recommeniliitions, However the proposals hud the desired effect, as it would load to somolhii'i; being done. Or Donaldson said tint Lliongii tho coinmittoo's proposals had mt been approved by tho Council somothing had beon achioTod. Tho position would no doubt hnvo been different h 1 nil tho mowbei'B of tho Council boon present. The motion was carried unanimously. _ The remainder of tin clauses oontained in thf committee's proposals, which were

not doalt with, woro as follows : "4, That thoWardon have discretion in overy caso to fotfoit or othorwiso na ho may think Dt. " fj_ That tho default necessary for liability to forfeiture bo made longer, any nino or 12 months,

»6. Thai iibinxloiini :iit by oporation of low bo abolished, "7, That when improvomonts to a cortain vuluo, say 1150 or £2OO have been niado on a sito it bo not liablo lo forloituro at'all oxccp'< in vory gross default in paymont of rent, so long iw improvements to that valiio rt'innin on tho site. "8. That in ease n sito bo requited for mining purposes rcesonablo compensation bo given for value of laud as well as improvements."