LAND SETTLEMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12254, 3 June 1914, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT.

EVIDENCE TAKEN AT HOKITIKA. CONFLICTING- INTERESTS CONSIDERED. (Per Press Association.) Hokitiba, June 2. The Royal Commission on Timber, Mining, and Land. Tenures—Messrs J. Strauchon (chairman), J. A. Ma-reliant, and Major Lush, with Mr F. T. Sandford as secretary—concluded its sittings at Hokitika to-day. The principal witnesses protested against theduial control of the Warden's Court and the Land Board, preferring the latter. Sawmillers said they required better tenure to enable t'liem to finance the timber areas held', and' also large- timber reserves to warrant the construction of iron railways to the back country. The miners wished the right to hold land, to combine mining with pastoral and agricultural pursuits. The settlers desired occupation with light of purchase or a similar title, instead of tempo rar<- grazing licenses, to enable them to make improvements and a permanent home, with the resumption provision for mining purpo-ses carrying compensation. Tne.y recommended that worked-out sawmill areas be burnt and grassed, and that mining tailings be levelled 1 whilst working, to eventually become fruit-growing land, and where possible superior pastoral land be removed from the jurisdiction of the Warden's Court. The evidence showed the possibilities of West-land as a goldproducing centre for the companies working on a large scale, and deprecated attempts to create a boom, which in the past had done harm to the industry. The commission will sit at Ross to-morrow and at Kumara on Thursday.