MINING PRIVILEGES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 17 July 1917, Page 7

MINING PRIVILEGES.

PROTECTION UNDER MILITARY SERVICE ACT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 16. Regulations for the protection of mining privileges arc published in a "Gazette Extraordinary" to-day. They will bo Icnown as the Mining Privileges Protection Regulations, 1917, and provide that every registered, mining privilege under the Mining Act, 1908, which is protested under these regulations shall l-c free from all li-abiiity, abandonment, or forfeiture from any cause arising during the period of protection, other than default of payment or royalty, rent or liccnso fees. Protection under the regulations or any mining privilege may be granted by any Military Service Board, under the Military Service Act, 1916, on tho hearing and dismissal by it of any appeal under that Act, if "the Board is of opinion that such protection is expedient, having regard to the conditions created by the compulsory military service of the reservist whose calling up is appealed against. On the grant of any such protection, tho chairman of the Military Service Board shall transmit to the mining registrar of the district in which the mining privilege is situated, a certificate of protection, and the registrar shall thereupon, register the certificate in a register of mining privileges. Protection under these regulations shall take effect as soon as the certificate of protection has been received by the registrar, and shall, unless sooner cancelled under the regulations, continue during the present war and for a period of twc-lve months thereafter. Protection, granted under tho regulations may at any time be cancelled by tho P.linistcr of Mines on tho recommendation of a Military Service Board.

A _ Press Association telegram from Hokitika states that the dispute between the Military Service Board and the Warden (Mr_ Hutchison) following on the latter's objection to the remarks of the chairman (Mr J. S. Evans), in favour of granting protection to a miner at Kanieri, was advancocl a stage yesterday afternoon. The Warden had granted six months' protection, but the Military Sorvice Board considered that period was totally inadequate, and had further adjourned the hearing. Yesterday the Board, empowered by a recent regulation, granted protection for 'the period of the war and twelve months after. The appellant wns ordered to go into camp next month.