MINING BILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 13

MINING BILL

AMENDMENTS MADE : ij: PROTECTING FARM LANDS COMPENSATION PROVISIONS SOUTH ISLAND OPERATIONS [BY TELJiGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday On behaif of the Mines Comniittee, Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Government—Central Otago) reported to the House of Representatives to-day that the committee had considered the Mining Amendment Bill and recommended that it be allowed to proceed with amendments. Mr. W. J. Poison (GovernmentStratford) asked Mr. Bodkin to give some particulars about the bill, as there was great apprehension on the part of farmers throughout the South Island as to the effect of any legislation upon their farming land. He had received letters from farmers in Otago and on the Weßt Coast urging that there should be no interference with farming land. He hoped the House would not pass any bill which would allow good farming land to be sold" for goldmining purposes and destroyed for farming. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Government—Dunedin West) asked if the committee had considered the necessity for putting the mining laws on a proper basis. Mr. F. Jones (Labour—Dunedin South) hojped that the arable land of Central Otago would be adequately protected under the bill. Mr. J, A. Macphersort (Government Oamaru) thought that the statements of land being destroyed by goldmining had been exaggerated. Regulations could be brought in to protect the few small areas that were affected. Mr. A. E. Ansell (Government — Chalmers) said that in Otago much good agricultural land had been destroyed for all time by goldmining operations, Mr. E. F. Healy (Government—Wairau) said there was much English capital available for goldmining operations. He hoped that good land would be protected. Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Independent— Southern Maori) appealed to the Minister to see that native lands, such as the Arahura liiver, were protected. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Mines, said the bill was largely designed to protect land, and provided for the payment of compensation for land affected. Mr. Bodkin said much damage in the past had been done by the freeholder. He thought the whofe law should be revised and a consolidation measure brought down. The measure went a long way to protect the agricultural landholder. The report was tabled.