LOCKED UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 138, 13 June 1929, Page 24

LOCKED UP.

UNWORKED MINING LAND.

HARDLY ANY REVENUE.

THAMES COUNTY PROBLEMS,

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THAMES, Wednesday.

Very strong views were expressed yesterday by members of the Thames County Council on the subject of ground locked up by mining syndicates without being worked and owners coming to the council askipg for reductions of .rent. The matter was introduced by an application for reduction. The mining registrar at Thames notified the council that, subject to its approval, the warden recommended the application of George O'Barber for a reduction of rent to 1/ per acre for twelve months from January 1,192!), for th>. Nana Special Quartz Claim, KingSolomon Extended S.Q.C., New Victory S.Q.C., King Solomon S.Q.C., be recommended to the Minister. The chairman, Mr. H. Lowe, asked if any member of the council had information as to the work done in these claims. ''ounriHors stated that none oF them knew the claims. The chairman said he did not wish to block mining, but the council should know what work was being done. He believed in helping prospectors, but did not believe in the council allowing speculators to tie up big blocks of land. Mr. Cribb asked what the position was if the council reduced these rents. The chairman said there were large blocks of land in the county which were locked up and from which the council got hardly any revenue. He thought the council should have more information. The council got no rates, only gold revenue in the shape of rent from such lands. Mr. Courtney had no hesitation in saying that in eight out of ten cases promoters just took up land, floated'a company, and never did any work. They simply sat down to wait fur another baton of fools to come along. He did not think any mine which was not working should have rent reduced. He considered it a disgrace that speculators should come to the council and ask for reduction of rent when it meant using the ratepayers' money. He knew many cases where tributcrs had been refused access to ground, and the owner had come asking for a reduction, crying poverty. The council did not discriminate between legitimate miners and the gambler. He himself knew where he could get 9 dwts to the pound. Mr. McCormick: To the ton you mean. Mr. Courtney: No, to the pound, and I could not get a tribute. There is a little "colour and dab" syndicate here which has got every likely bit of ground in this locality tied up, and is just sitting on the ground. I move that further information be demanded. Mr. Cribb: I second that. The motion was carried.