MINING CONCESSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10847, 12 March 1921, Page 7

MINING CONCESSION

GRANT TO AMERICAN CO.

GIANT DREDGE FOR AURIFEROUS AREA. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. The question of the giving of mining and timber concessions to foreigners was raised in the • House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr H. Atmore (Nelson). Had the attention of the Prime Minister, he asked, been directed to an item in the local. papers to the effect that an American syndicate had' secured large mining- concessions and timber in South Westland; and. if so, could Hie Prime -Minister assure the House that no timber concessions had- been or would be granted to any foreign syndicate. Mr Massey said that lie was afraid that he was not able to go into details in tho way he would like. He was not possessed of sufficient information on tho subject. However, he could say that a syndicate—an American syndicate, he believed—some months ago applied for 10,000 acres of land in South. Westland. Tho application was considered, but not granted; though he believed he was'right in saying that it was reoommended! by the local Land Board. The land had since been handed over to the Forest Department. A mining concession had been granted to an American company at Bimu Flat. For some time past attempts had been made to work gold there, but bhey had not bo far been successful. The American company, however, had bought a giant dredge, which was intended to handle a large quantity of the dirt and huge boulders, which we had been unable to handle previously and the people of the district thought that the dredge would prove successful. If it was a success, it would be a very good thing for the locality, because was plenty of room for other dredges there. The mining concession was granted: -but there was no concession granted in regard to timber, and there wouid not be any.

Mr W. B. Parry (Auckland Central) urged that a condition should, be impoeed on the company requiring that the land should be left in a fit 6tate fir agricultural purposes. Mir Massey: I had a‘look at. the soil and it is absolutely unfit for agricultural purposes. PAPER PULP LEASE. STILL IN EXISTENCE. Mr G- Witty (Riccarton) asked the Prime Minister whether anything had been done in regard - the lease of. land on the West Coast i r paper p>ulp-mak-ing. Was the -land iieing used yet for that -purpose; and. if not, had the lease been cancelled ? Mr Massey: So far as my knowledge Saes, the lease is still in existence, and as not been cancelled.