The Dunstan Times. "Fiat justitia ruat coelum." MONDAY, Aug. 14th, 1922. HIGH-HANDED ACTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3130, 14 August 1922, Page 4

The Dunstan Times. "Fiat justitia ruat coelum." MONDAY, Aug. 14th, 1922. HIGH-HANDED ACTION.

Considerable indignation is expressed by owners of water rights at the drastic action of the Mines Department in prosecuting wholesale persons who have neglected to make returns as required by the Act. We use the word wholesale advisedly, for no less than S3 summonses have been issued in Clyde. We have had visits from several irate people who complain that they were not aware that any such return was required; that no intimation of any sort was given them, nor did they receive any forms for the purpose. Others admit receiving a form asking for the information, but they rightly complain that something in the nature of a reminder or final notice of some sort should have been given them before such severe steps were taken. To show how little consideration was given to the actual right holders, Ave have only to mention that the local Court authorities not only could not provide forms to people desiring ' to make amends for their omission, but knew nothing of the regulations at all. As a matter of fact the regulation which has given rise to all the trouble was gazetted in 1920, ar small par inserted in a voluminous gazette which very few people would see. The regulation is not a part of the act itself and we arc forcibly reminded that there is too much legislation by order in Council. Everything considered the action of the Dept, can only be called very high-handed, but it is only characteristic of the Government service generally. It is high time that the officers responsible for the conduct of the Govt. Depts. were reminded that they are the servants of the people, and that such autocratic action as the one complained of will not be tolerated- Tuly we arc getting more like Russia every day.