CANCELLATION OF A SUBSIDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 6

CANCELLATION OF A SUBSIDY

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—A paragraph in the Lawrence notes of the 4th inst. states that, "owing to objections by mining and pastoral interests/' a subsidy granted in connection with the formation of new golf links on the Wetherstones Flat has been cancelled. For the information of the pastoralists and those who have assisted us. I may say that this paragraph was not supplied by anyone associated with the committee, and as the withdrawal of the subsidy precludes us from proceeding with the work at present a review of the action taken should make the position clear. When the scheme was first mooted the pastoralists willingly accorded permission for the use of their holdings. That permission hns not been withdrawn. A condition of the subsidy later required that the leases be held by the Golf Club, and we endeavoured to persuade the pastoralists to accord this on very advantageous terms. Our overtures were made only to the parties concerned. Unfortunately, at this stage the question of these holdings and others oeing set aside for afforestation arose, and to this the lessees naturally objected. They could not, therefore, give us a definite decision pending a decision on the question of afforestation. It is, therefore, surprising to learn from your paragraph that objections to the formation of the links had been made by "pastoral interests." With regard to "mining interests," investors have cause to remember the result of recent mining operations on which something like £60,000 was expended. Local residents will recall that some £SOOO of unemployment funds was sunk in this venture, that an expensive geophysical survey of the area was made, that the ground had been mined, fossicked, sluiced, and in parts dredged, and that prospects on subsidy failed to secure more than a few " weights," so lha'. it is difficult to credit the suggestion of a valuable auriferous deposit still remaining. The Minister of Mines evidently appreciated this, as he refused further assistance. Yet the Minister of Labour would appear to have been impressed with the representations made concerning the possibilities of the area. Before entering upon the scheme, however, members of the committee interviewed at least one ' mining interest" operating and known to be interested in the locality and made the layout in accordance with the information supplied. Here again we were working in apparent harmony with an interested party. Whence, then, the

objection? A number of years ago the lease of this area was held by the golf club and links were formed and used for some years, so that there is some reason for our endeavour to revive them We wish to make it clear that we have taken no action in this matter, to which any party need have lodged objection. The result now of these objections and the Minister's decision, evidently based on the "objections," is that six men have been deprived of the opportunity of earning full wages for at least three months; that the community has been deprived of a valuable asset; that this area, at present largely gorse-covered and swampy, which would have been cleared, drained, and brought into greater productivity, will, in all probability—should and if mining is again carried on—be left, like so many other areas, a barren tumbled area of rubble destroyed for many years to come.

A copy of the Minister of Labour's communication, for which we trust you will And space, is attached. It will enable the public who have contributed so generously to understand the positio. We feel that we have, at present, done our utmost to carry out our undertaking and are not in any way responsible for the present deadlock. We also assure the pastoralists. and, knowing them, we hesitate to associate them with the objections; that any future action decided upon by the committee will be taken as openly as in the past and with every regard for their interests.—l am. etc., F. L, McFarlane, Chairman, New Links Committee. Lawrence, December 7. ICopy] Mr F. L. McFarlane. Chairman, New Links Committee, Lawrence Dear Sir,—With reference to your letter of October 20, I have to advise that, as a result of several protests having been received against the formation of golf links on a mining reserve at Wetherstones Flat, I have had an investigation made concerning the matter. It appears that, if a golf course were set out on this area, it would be essential, in order to preserve it from mining activities, that the ground be withdrawn from the provisions of the Mining Act, and, as it is quite possible that the large auriferous deposit underlying the ground in question will receive further attention in the future, it is considered that it would be a very unsound policy to hinder, or perhaps prevent, mining because a few acres of the surface were in use as a golf course. It is understood that you have been unable to obtain a transfer of the lease from Mr Cranley, and, on inquiries being made at the Warden's Court, it was found that Mr Thompson and/or his wife has mining licences over several areas contiguous to the proposed course. If sluicing were carried out on these claims, the links, if formed, would probably be ruined. Inquiries made from the commissioner of Crown lands In Dunedin reveal that he is not prepared to recommend that the area be removed from the mining district. In the circumstances, it is regretted that the offer of subsidy made to you in my letter of October 1 must be withdrawn.—Yours faithfully, H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Labour.