Grey River Argus and Blackball News MONDAY, June ist, 1914.

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1914, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

MONDAY, June ist, 1914.

Delivered every .morning m GreymoutJb. Kumara, Hoknika, Jiplwon, Wailsena, Taylor vMei Bruanerton, StiUwater. Ngaliere, Blaokuall Bee^tot*, Cronodun, Bttoanga, JJuaoihe, CobUeii I Baxtei'B.^Kokin, Patara', JSJumawt, Aratiia s*££ Ut t* 0 ?* 1 * vt v ' '* c a « *otomanu J rosrua, I bonnie, Jaokeous an v otna<

Two prominent planks in the Refoim Party's policy are the encourag-ement of setJers and the promotion of settlement. 7 With the idea of gettingthoroughly in touch with the position so that all difficulties may be removed, the Government has set up a Commission, consisting of Mr J. Strauchon (lat;e Under-Secretary: for Lands), Major -Lusk (President of the Auckland Farmers' Union) and Mr. John Allman Marchant, managing diector of the Ruatapu sawmill. The Commission is to conduct its inquiries in 'th© first place in Westland and Nelson. Afterwards, with some possibly slight alterations in the person ■ nelj and the order of reference, it will extend its inquiries to the North Auckland, and then to the Thames, Paeroa, and., Rotorua districts. The Commission has been instructed to in quire into the conditions under which land is held from the Crown with a view to 1 providitig- tenures which will be .more satisfactory- to the settlers, and at the same time safeguard the interests of the State. There Jias been, much difficulty on the Coast owing to the overlapping of the timber and agricultural interests, and the Premier hopes that the Commission -will be' able to remedy this. No fault can be found with' the personnel of the Commission so far as it goes. Each Is an expert in his own department Major- Lusk is a surveyor and Mr Strauchon was at one time Commissioner of Crown' Lands in Westland, and therefore he has full knowledge of matters' relating to tenure and land administration. Mr. Marchant's special knowledge, as a saw-' miller will also -be of value, since the inquiry concerns such matters as flra ber rights and leases, as well as' ordinary settlement. One important 1 in- \ dustry has, however,- been omitted, for there is 'no one to -represent the mining community This is indeecl an important defect, for there is no doubt lhait the mmmg 1 industry is of vital importance" to the. people of Westland A great deal of capital has been sunk in the various mining ventures on «fo r 3i^»«ayi^Air^A^JLfflpJ<>yw?Tit

is found for a^great many men. There has been a tendency of recent years to-ignore the mining community and make the latter more arid more dependent on Government officials. In stead of getting their information first harid from those, actually engaged in the work the Government is too pi one, to place reliance on the reports of its various officials. These latterare no doubt very able men, but they cannot be" expected to take the same, vital interest in the question as, men" whose living" depends upon its develop ment. . Those. in >the. mining industry know that they must make the. busi ness pay, for when they retire there is no comfortable pension waiting for them. IH' therefore, behoves those who are ; connecte?d with.. ;mining to keep their claims before the Govern meat, and /when the Commission *s sitting here' to come forward and put their position before the members. The public v are too prone to forget what the Coast owes to it's mineral resource's, and there is no doubt that the industry -will find employment for capital and -labour for many years to