MINING RENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 2

MINING RENTS.

COUNTS" OPPOSES PROTECTION. DEPLETION OF REVENUE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WAIHI, Friday. In the. Warden's Court this afternoon au application of considerable importance to mining companies was heard before Mr. E. Page, Warden. James Webb Blackmail (represented by Mr. E. W. lorritt) applied for a certificate of reduction of rent on a series of mining leases, held by him on behalf of a syndicate. Mr. W. M. Jackson appeared for the Waihi Borough Council, and Mr. Tracy Moresby for the Ohinemuri County Council. Mr. Porritt read correspondence relating to previous protections, and to the attitude of the British Treasury in prohibiting English capital being used for mining development in New Zealand during the war. In reply to Mr. Moresby, counsel said that the claims held by applicant, inc'uded the Waihi Princt, Princess Extended, and Pride of Waihi. Mr. Jackson stated that on the occasion c! v previous application in regard |to these properties he had agreed not Ito oppost the application on the basis iof a rental of 3/9 per acre. I Mr. Moresby said he would oppose the application right out. There was no ; personal objection to it, but the County : Council felt bound to oppose it in view of the depletion of the county's revenue. There was no money for local bodies, and they had to rely upon their own re sources. The County Council had, by the recent flood, sustained considerable damage to mining roads. Maratoto Road was in the last few days damaged to such an extent that it would require about £000 for repairs. He considered that the Government, instead of reducing mining rents, and thus impoverishing local bodies, should make a straight-out grant to applicants. Mr. Porritt eaid the position of the County Council might be acute, but everybody else was in these times in a similar position. If the capital which his clients had was released, then it would result in a material increase to the revenue of both the County Council and the Waihi Borough Council. The Warden said he would take time to consider the application, and give his decision next Court day. Robert Hutchinson (Mr. E. W. Porritt) applied for six months' protection of the Golden Sand river claim on the Ohinemuri River. The Warden considered that the grounds for the application were reasonable, and granted protection accord ingly.