THAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1902, Page 3

THAMES.

Mr W H. Lucas addressed the electors in the Central Hail, Thames, on Thursday evening, Mr Deeble presiding over a large attendance. In opening his address Mr Lucas expressed his determination to go to the poll. With regard to qualifications, the residents oA the goldhelds, he said, would be best able to judge, as ne had lived at the Thames the best part of his life- He laid a claim, however, to one essential qualification, viz., experience and an intimate knowledge of the district and its requirements, seeing that he had shared in all the ups and downs of the field. With regard to the present depressed state of the Thames goidfieid, he thought the causes were many and varied, but one of the principal was too much reliance on the promise of foreugn capital to develop the deep levels. In his opinion, its permanent improvement must come from either deep level development or in opening up the back country. His principal objections to the Mining Act were: (1) The areas allowed were much too large; and (2) that the labour conditions were too light. The area had been increased, he said, from the old miner's right claim af abuut half-an-acre toi tne present large sheep runs, when one man could hold hundreds of acres, and needed only to work one acre if he so chose, whilst he allowed the remainder to remain idle. With regard to the labour conditions, these had been reduced to the lowest possible minimum. Amendments were needed so that companies would be prevented from continuing to man their ground by the employment, of tributers, instead of wages men. The speaker declared that there was no intention on the part of miners to advocate a policy of confiscation, but he certainly thought that if the companies would not work their properties they should not be alldwed to lock up large areas to the detriment of the miners and the injury of the district Mr Lucas said he was generally a supporter of the present Government, but he took strong exception to the legislation dealing* with the mining industry, and dealt with this subject at considerable length. At the conclusion of the address, which was well received, Mr Lucas, in reply to questions, stated that he was in favour af submitting the matter of Bible-reading in schools to a referendum of the people. On the motion of Mr Thos Day, seconded by Mr J. Watson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker for his address.