LAND TENURES ON THE WEST COAST.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 12

LAND TENURES ON THE WEST COAST.

SITTINGS OF ROYAL COMMISSION.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) *. HOKITIKA, June 2. The Royal Commission on limber, Mining, and Land Tenures, consisting of Messrs J. Strauchon (chairman), J. A. Marchant, and Major Ln->h, with Mr F. T. Sandford (secretary), concluded its sitting at Hokitika to-day. The principal witnesses protested against, dual control by the Warden*-' Court and the Laud Board, prcieiring the latter. The Dawmillers require better tenure to enable them to finance timber areas, and it is field, also, that larger timber reserves warranted tho construction of iron railways to the oack country. Miners wish the right to combine mining with pastoral and l agricultural pursuits. Settlers desire occupation with right of purchase, or similar title, instead of temporary grazing licenses, to enafuo them to make improvements and permanent homes, with resumption for mining purposes, carrying compensation. i It was recommended that worked-out sawmill aroa3 be burnt and grassed, and that mining tailings be levelled, whibst working, fo eventually become fruit-growing land. Whore possible, superior pastoral land should be re--moved from tho jurisdiction of tho Wardens' Court. Tbe evidence showed th© possibilities of Wcstland a gold-producing centre for companies working on a large scale, and dppro"_tf-d attempts to create ** boom wbich in the past had come harm to the industry. The Cornn-ii«-rion s'ts at Boas to-mor-row, and at Kumara on Thursday.