Mining bill ‘hasty’

Press, 17 November 1977, Page 18

Mining bill ‘hasty’

PA Wellington The Mining Amendment ' Bill, which makes it easier to obtain mining prospecting' licences in national parks, should not be passed through ! I Parliament this year as the I I Government intends, say! ; environmentalists. I The bill has been intro-| duced by the Minister ofi Mines (Mr Gair). ! *•[ think much more time; i should be allowed for differ- , •’ ent groups to study the bill—,, , it should not be passed until 1

next session,” said Dr J. Prior, chairman of the Environment and Conservation Organisations. “Throughout this year I there have been far too many .bills that come forward, and I 'quite inadequate time has | been allowed for different! !groups to present submis-i isions,” he said. He said that E.C.O. was ; opposed to mining in national | i parks in principle, although; |it accepted that where the i economic benefits were very igreat this could outweigh’ 'environmental aspects.

•‘Some of our national parks, if they are maintained for all time, are going to have continuing major advan- ' tages not only for our own people but for tourists,” said IDr Prior. : E.C.O. also wanted to see ■provision for public partici- ; pation in the decision to I grant a prospecting licence, [which at present was left entirely to the Ministers of Lands and Mines. I “This is the sort of thing ■that could come forward in ’ carefully thought-out eub- ‘ missions,” he said.