THE HON. J. McGOWAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 6

THE HON. J. M c GOWAN.

VISIT TO THE GOLDFIELDS. IMPORTANT DEPUTATIONS. ' [BY TELEGRAPH". —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Tuesday. Yesterday evening the Hon. James McGowaii, Minister for Mines, accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. Charles Matthews) and Captain A. C. Turner (district road engineer for Rotorua), arrived in Waihi shortly after naif-past five o'clock from Tauranga. The Minister was met on his arrival by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. H. Phillips) and the town clerk (Mr. H. D. Morpeth): RESIDENT CORONER. During the evening M-. McGowan was besieged by callers, and at half-past nine o'clock a deputation of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union, consisting of Messrs. J. Newth (president of the union), T. Agnew (acting-secretary), G. Barry, J. Beck, A. Armstrong, Sanson, and J. Salt waited upon him with regard to the appointment of a resident coroner. After the deputation had explained their case, the Minister said it was an important matter, and if, as the deputation had stated, there were valid reasons for the appointment, they were quite justified in asking for a resident coroner. He would certainly give the matter his early attention. PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. The deputation also asked the Minister as to the question of compulsory preference to unionists. Mr. McGowan, in reply, said that if Mr. Seddon had made a promise to this effect he would no doubt keep it. Speaking for himself, he believed in absolute freedom. A. LOAN. At nine o'clock this morning the Minister was waited on by His Worship the Mayor, the town clerk, councillors, and representative ratepayers. Among those present were Messrs. John Flett, jun., E. H. Pilling, P. McGregor, R. Gooeh, C. J. Graham, D. Campbell, A. Dick, D Donaldson, C. A. Ivatz, W. Hume, M. Shanasey, and a number of others. The Mayor said he hoped Mr. McGowan would render them what assistance he could when he got back to Wellington in procuring the loan for the water supply. It was a most vital matter to all the residents of Waihi. There were, he said, a number of ratepayers present, who held a. considerable amount of property in Waihi, and who would endorse his statement thai the paragraph contained in a circular, which had given rise to correspondence to the Treasury, had not influenced them in recording the*-., votes at the poll taken in connection with the proposed loan for th"; water supply. Mr. R. Gooch said he was a- ratepayer holding a considerable amount of property in Waihi, and he wished to say that he, in common with other ratepayers, had fully understood the position, and had not in any way been misled by the circular in question. Personally, he was in favour of the loan.

Messrs. Donaldson, Ross, Pilling, Campbell, and others endorsed the Mayor's remarks. Mr. McGowan, in reply, said that he believed lie had got at the root of the matter, at all events, as far as it was possible. He considered it a. foolish circular. The real security for the loan was the rates from whatever source the money v.'as borrowed. The gold duty was not good security, as where would it be if Parliament next session abolished the gold duty. He did not think for one moment that this would happen, but there was the possibility. I Here the Mayor remarked that in that case the mines would be rated. The Hon. the Minister said that the gold ; duty was primarily for roads and streets. He understood that the Council had had no | reply from the Treasury to the explanation given of the Council's, action. After the ■ Easter holidays he would endeavour to get a reply from the Department. He would like to impress upon the Council the absolute importance of economy. Great care j should be exercised in the control of the finances. Since understanding the position ho looked upon the matter in a much more favourable light. The Mayor said he was very much obliged to the Minister for the remarks. Before closing, lie would like to remind Mr. McGowan that he (the Minister) had said the gold duty belpnged to Waihi. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward had also made similar statements, and he hoped the Minister would bring the matter of gazetting the Order-in-C'ouncil before the Cabinet. Mr. McGowan said he did not think it necessary to gazette it. The Mayor said they had been advised that the order would have to be gazetted. The Minister said the advice may be right. He was very pleased to have' met them. ' The Mayor thanked the Minister on be- : half of the Borough Council and citizens of j Waihi. The deputation tfien withdrew. Mr. McGowan, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. G'bas. K. Matthews, left at about eleven o'clock for the Thames. KARANGAHAKE MATTERS. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN corresvon-bext.] Paeroa, Tuesday. The Hon. J. McGowan passed through Karangahake to Paeroa to-day, en route to the Thames. When at Karangahake the Minister was met by Mr. E. G. B. Moss, M.3.R., and members of the Mackaytown Domain Board, and the Karangahake Miners' Union. Deputations were received in the Miners' Union Hall on various subjects d'ecting Karangahake and mining generally. The Minister agreed to make inquiries into the subsidy said to have been promised to the Domain Board some months ago by one of the other Ministers. He also agreed to see what could be done towards enabling firewood-dealers to obtain an area for timber cutting, and to see whether the regulations in connection with prospecting could not be simplified. Various other matters affecting mining were touched on. PAEROA .LEASEHOLD QUESTION. At Paeroa the Minister was waited upon by a deputation regarding the unsatisfactory state of the Paeroa leasehold question, the deputation being introduced by Mr. Moss, who referred to certain correspondence which had taken place between himself and the Minister for Lands, and he pointed out that the latter had, in the course of a reply, stated that the question of granting the freehold in Paeroa township was one of policy. The Minister considered subsequent developments have led the Government to believe that it is unwise to part with the freehold of the sections in the town of Paeroa, and it has been decided that no action shall be taken, but that the leases shall be allowed to run their course. With regard to the unoccupied sections, it has not yet been decided what is the most advantageous course to adopt. Mr. Moss then read a letter which he had written to the Ministerin reply, showing the great necessity there was for a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the question, and also pointing out as one of the reasons the fact that tenants would not improve their properties whilst the uncertainty of their tenure existed. He suggested that the laud be offered to the present occupiers for private purchase at a valuation to be put upon it by the Minister. He maintained that under section 12 of the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1899, subsections 4 and 6, express provision had been made for the disposal of these lands by private sale, and that any of tire lessees could not accept the offer of the Government, as they had sub-let or mortgaged their sections, and moreover, no compensation would be allowed for the loss of a business should a section be bought by someone else. Messrs. F. Cock, Cassrells. arid Barrett also spoke on the matter. In answer to a question from the Minister. Mr. Moss stated that the Government could protect itself by putting a fair price on the sections, and 'then offering them at that price to the bona-fide occupants. Mr. MeGowaai stated that the matter being one of policy, and out of his department, he could not express an opinion on it, but would mention the matter to the Minister for Lands. FREE CARRIAGE OF TE AROHA ORES. Messrs. Edwin Edwards, F. Cock, and C. Colclough then drew attention to the fact that a local syndicate had been formed to work the immense galena ore deposits at Te Aroha, and that they had an order for 5000 tons of quartz from the ■ Australian Metal [ Company.. The cost of transit, however,

militated considerably against profitable returns. The deputation pointed cut that if the Government could see its way clear to assist, the industry has possibilities of developing into something very large. What they asked first was, that with regard to the first shipment the ore be conveyed over the railway from Te Aroha to Auckland free of cost, and that subsequent parcels should be can-led at a-greatly reduced tariff to that which at present obtained. The Minister, in reply, said that the question was one for the Minister for Railways, but still he would undertake to grant the wishes of the deputation in respect of the. first parcel, and as the cost of transit would be about £20, he would see that this concession would be granted. The tariff of subsequent parcels, however, would have to be settled by the Minister for Railways, before whom he* would lay the wants of the deputa- '""" ' THE GOLD DUTY. Mr. Poland (county chairman) again drew attention to the need there was of the Government making some other adjustment in respect of the gold duty question. He referred to what had been done in the past in connection with the matter, and the result of a deputation that waited upon the Premier in Auckland. He contended that a great hardship would result to the county if the long-delayed Order-in-Council is gazetted. Mr. Cassrells also spoke, but the Minister replied that he could not enter into the matter or interfere with it. as the question had already been discussed and decided upon. COSTLY ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Moore .drew attention to the unnecessarv expense there was in administering the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Acts by over-representation. The Minister agreed, but said that they must abide by the present laws. Perhaps some day the question would be,taken in hand by thb Government. The cost of conducting licensing elections was introduced by Mr. Poland, and he pointed out that the last election cost £350. He suggested that an amendment in the Act should be made abolishing the present system of election, and that the local body should act as a licensing committee, with the S.M. as chairman. Either that or the local body should be allowed to conduct the election. Mr. McGowan promised to lay the matter before the Colonial Secretary. AID TO PROSPECTING. Mr. Poland asked for some modification in the method by which aid to prospecting could bo obtained from the Government. The subsidy of the local body could only be aided by a' similar Government grant after a good deal of troub'e. Some of the regulations required altering to facilitate the efforts of the local body in their encouragement to prospecting. This Minister said that if Mr. Poland would communicate with him pointing out the regulations requiring modification he would give it his earliest consideration. OTHER MATTERS.

The Minister also promised to look into the question of a footbridge over the Ohinemuri River, continuous to the railway, the deputation stating the -Premier had promised the bridge on his last visit to the district. Thte question of doing away with the railway gates ana superseding them with turnstiles, he promised to lay before the Minister for Railways. The urgent necessity of providing the Maoris with domestic water supply was also brought before him, and he said he would see what could be done in the matter. The county chairman asked for assistance in keeping the river clear of snags, etc., between the Puke and the junction, and Mr. McGowan promised to lay the matter before the Minister for Marine." and also the question of the silting up of the Ohinemuri River. The Minister for Mines left for Thames by the afternoon train. ARRIVAL AT THAMES. [13Y TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Tuesday. The Hon. Jas. McGowan arrived here bv train this evening from the upper goldfields districts. It is understood that the lion, gentleman's visit on this occasion will be somewhat brief, as he has to be in Wellington by Saturday next. Therefore, it will h?. necessary for him to leave here by steamer for Auckland to-morrow afternoon. He will, however, receive deputations to-morrow morniug, on various pub.ic matters concerning the welfare of this district, including one from the Goldfields' Improvement Committee concerning the testing of the deep levels by boring, and one. from the School of Mines Council, regarding certain matters in connection with its experimental plant.