DREDGING CLAIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 18

DREDGING CLAIMS

LIMITATION TO THREE MILES THE RESTRICTION CRITICISED EFFECT ON INDUSTRY IN OTAGO (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. General commendation of the Mining Amendment Bill was expressed by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago)' during the debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Bodkin said he welcomed the clause providing that applicants for renewals of prospecting, licences must provide proof that a certain amount of work had been done during the term of the expired licence. That course would put a check on the operations of individuals who were to all intents and purposes company promoters and who, after obtaining prospecting licences, passed them on to other individuals or companies. Mr Bodkin expressed surprise at the provision in the Bill for limiting the extent of a dredging claim in a stream to three miles. During 1934, he said, this had been extended from the original three miles to- 16 miles, and he asked the Minister (Mr Webb) to explain why that was being revoked. There ■ were some rivers in Otago where wingdamming had formerly been carried out and where at present dredging operations were confined mainly to pox-tion of the river where a dam had been built down the centre. A considerably greater distance than three miles would be necessary to warrant the expense of installing a modern dredge. “Why take away from the Warden’s Court the power to grant electric power licences?” Mr Bodkin asked. “They have not been granted ip any district served by power boards, and if mining is to be carried on in remote districts, as it frequently has to be, it is essential that power should be available. The Public Works Department charges the companies £1 a kilowatt, which is a serious impost on industry. :..»i Dealing with the sections of the Bill relating to water supply,. Mr Bodkin said he had received a letter from runholders in the Naseby district who said that water was in particularly short supply in Central Otago, and the whole of the stream' they drew upon had been diverted into a Public Works Department race for mining purposes. „He welcomed the provision in the ; Bill that would enable them to apply to' the Warden’s Court for sufficient water for their stock. It would be greatly appreciated by runholders in Central Otago. .