MINING AREAS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 20

MINING AREAS

CONSERVING IDLE ASSETS

Iv the Legislative Council y ester-' day the Hon. M. Fagan asked the dovernment whether, in view of the fact that the policy of assisting unemployment relief and producing national wealth by means of gold production was being hampered by persons holding down large areas of mineral country for speculative purposes, it would tako steps to conserve the idle mineral assets of the Dominion by causing a search to be made of the different mining registers with a view to the preparation of plans in the principal mining districts showing the areas held, by whom heM, and the dalo upon which the licences wore granted, and make stricter provisions for annual review and cancellation where labour conditions of licences granted are not complied with. "The mining registrars iv the mining districts have been- and are still taking the necessary steps under the provisions of Section 188 of tho Mining Act, 1926, to strike off the Begister mining privileges, and during the year ended December 31, 1932, 154 of such privileges were so dealt, with," replied Mr, Masters. "The Minister of Mines when consenting to the granting of mining privileges, has been imposing conditions requiring .the,-licensees to spend so much, per weejc on each area held by them upon prospecting or mining operations, and such licensees are required to report,to the inspector of mines quarterly as to the work-car-ried out and the expenditure incurred* 'As most of the licences granted aro held for one year only, and without any, right of renewal, it is considered that ■ the expense involved in preparing plans showing the information' suggested would not be justified; moreover, tha results disclosed ■■would not have' any permanent value. If the- hon. gentleman is able to furnish to the Minister of Mines, particulars/of auy areas which he,thinks are being held without being worked steps will bo takeu with the object 'of the 'mining privileges being struck off- the Mining- Kegister.- Tho Minister.of Mines assures me that.. Its is as far as possibjo and within his power imposing conditions requiring tho' holders of mining rights to prospect their areas in. compliance with the law. There is, however, one difficulty, and that is that outside Otago mining districts' 'prospecting.licences are not subjectto his consent and in such case ho bas no jurisdiction, the matter being left solely to the wardens to deal with..

British • railways last, year bought 14,000,000 tons of coal, 210,000 tons of rails, 290.000 tons.of. ironwork, 21,000,000 bricks, \ 17,000,000 cubic feet of-timber, and 4,000,001) sleepers, .9000. tons <of paint, 62.000 ton* of' oil, and over 2000 milpa of cloth.