SITTING OF ROYAL COMMISSION

Press, Volume L, Issue 14987, 6 June 1914, Page 14

SITTING OF ROYAL COMMISSION

SUGGESTED REFORMS

(TB-SS ASSOCIATION- TE__GRAJO GREYMOUTH, June 5. Th© Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the timber and mining interests and terms of tenure of Crown lands on tho West Coast, commenced taking evidence this morning at the Greymouth Courthouse. I Mr T. V. Byrne, solicitor, brought under the notice of the Commissioner the large areas of lands held under the coal-mining leases. There were many excellent tracts of» coal-bearing land, from Greymouth. extending northward, that wore not being utilised for coalmining. It was suggested that provision should be made that theso lands could bo used for fanning purposes. He thought that some regulation should be made for simplifying tho procedure to acquire such surfaco rights for agricultural purposes. This could, he submitted, bo done without inconvenience to coal-mining proprietaries. Two industries could exist side by side. He cited a caso when an applicant had desired 100 acres for poultry farming and fruit culture near Rnnanga, but notwithstanding that the managerof tho State mine had made no objection to tho granting of such, tho difficulties of getting satisfactory tenure had provented tho client getting the land. ,As regards administration of land where there was dual authority, ono was likely to come into contact with another whatever was done. As regards these mining surface rights, they should be dealt with by authority. If the original granting of coal leases was left with the warden, then the granting of the surface rights should also bo in the hands of the warden.

SAWMILLERS' RECOMMENDATIONS.

The sawmillers' representatives said:

(1) "Past administration of-, timber areas under the provisions of tho Mining Aot has been* satisfactory since tho extension of the tenure to fivo years, and tho increase of areas and reservations to 2000 acres, except for somo possible overlapping by the Minos Department and the Lands Department." (2 "Wo aro of opinion that the existing control by the mining wardens should, under certain conditions, be abolished, and that the Commissioner of the district alono should deal with applications*for the disposal of timber to safeguard the interests of millers. The right should be reserved to them to secure, before any alteration of control is made, a maximum of 2000 aores, as provided by the mining regulations. They should also havo the right to secure, as each block of 400 acres hold under the warden is worked out, an equal area under the Commissioner, co as to maintain a maximum of 2000 acres. Section 32 of the Regulations for Forests on Crown Lands should be amended by raising tho maximum area allowed to 2000 acres, to bring it into line with the present maximum allowed by th© mining regulations. Holders of rights under the mining regulations should bo free to exchange the same for equivalent rights under the Land Board. Section 32, Regulations for Forests on Crown Lands, l should be amended substituting tho capacity in cutting power per month for the horsepower of the mill, and it is suggested that a monthly capacity of 200,000 superficial feet should take tho place of 30 horse-power. It may be", mentioned that the capacity of a mill does not with ely depend on its horse-power, as the facilities for supplying logs, such a3 tho length and condition of the tram lines, have a considerable bearing on the production of the mill, and also enter largely into tho matter of Urst c'cSt,.which should certainly bo taken into account .in estimating wnat is a fair area to be given to each mill. We aro of opinion that the system, of payment of a royalty otrtne timber annually produced is preferable to any' method or sale by auction or appraisement. We respectfully suggest that, »v the case of fresh regulations undor tho Lauds Act being proposed, mil&rs should havo an opportunity ox perus-,, nig tho same and making suggestions thereon before they are brought into force. In the event of it being decided that the administration of timber lands shall remmain as at present, under the jurisdiction of a warden, then the Commissioner alone should have power to deal with small areas of bush adjacent to the working tram-line, but which cannot be conveniently included in the sawmill license."

(3) "There appears to he no good reason for continuing the present classification of tbo timber country into warden's timber areas and Land Board timber areas,"

VARIOUS MATTERS.

Various settlors holding temporary grazing licenses asked lor a better title for land. Land on the West Coast was very suitable for dairying purposes. The farmers wanted tbo reservo land clauses to be enforce* when the tenure was 21 years. They could not borrow on land tenure with the right to purchase advocated. - Mining witnesses said that auriferous areas should be reserved in tho same way as land for agriculture or settlement. Land should be tested, and when not auriferous land, thrown open to settlement. Land Beards were not ideal bodies in dealing with matters placed before them, as there was i.o appeal from decisions. The proceduro should be improved.

The chairman of the Grey County Council presented a statement dealing with tho non-payment of the Timber royalty collo"ted by the v.-ardeu's otfico. There was somo laxity somewhere, he gaid.