LOWBURN MINERS' ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 17

LOWBURN MINERS' ASSOCIATION

A meeting of the Lowburn branch of the Confederate Miners' Association was held on the 9th inst. A considerable amount of correspondence was dealt with, including application for rules, &<:., from Hamiltons, and also from the Fiord County Miners' Association for the purpose of joining the Confederate Association ; also circular from the Clyde branch of the Otago Central League. In connection with the latter case the secretary was instructed to communicate with the leagus, pointing out that a similar resolution dealiDg with the construction of the railway had been passed by the association and forwarded to the Otago Central League on May 6 last year, but that no reply had been received ; still the association would us a their influence in favour of the work to the best of the c ability. The resolution from tie Mount Ida branch .recommending the appointment of Mr John Werner to the Legislative Cmncil was then dealt with. Mr Werner asked obe relieved of the secretaryship while the* mot : on was dealt with. Mr Jamiesoa spoke in favour of the motion of Mr Werner's appointment, and he pointed out that in dealing with mining legislation it was necessary to have men fiat understood mining requirements, and if Me Werner was appointed hewouli bj the right man in th? right place. Several other members also expressed similar opinion?, and the motion, after being seconded by Mr N. P. Kloogh, was carried unanimously. The chairman, Mr J. M'Donald, expressed himself highly pleased at such a motion being carried, and said that Mr Werner had rendered valuable aid to the m'niug industry in years past. He had been the mainstay of the associations, and he (the chair riati) was satisfied that * the appointment of Mr Werner to the Legislative Council would be beneficial not only to the miners, bat aho to their other fellow citizens. Me Werner thanked the members for their good opinions, and he thought that he might be a little over-rated ; but if appointed, he would do his best. A member of the Legislative Council did not represent a class, but the whole community, and it was necessary for Buch to have a proper grasp of the elements of social progress. There were, in the immediate future, some heavy problems to solve in connection with the pursuit of goldmininjr. He referred to the tailings question and mining outlet?. The position was at pw sant unsatisfactory ; goldmining was a legalised Cilling— that is, it wa3 deemed a factor of progress in the colony. Laws were made for its protection, and grants of easements were issued to the miners by way of claims, headraces, and tailraces. Still they wera continually mulcted in the Supreme Court in costs for the using of such easements or for the natural sequences therefrom. The case seem 3 also foil of hardship if a man acquires a piece oE land, make 3 his home upon it, and it is rendered valueless through accumulatioa of mining debris. He thought that the reasonable conclusion in thi-j matter should run thus : As the mining industry benefited the colony as a whole, its was but right that the people of the colony who bad, through their Government, issued mining rights and easements to the miner should be responsible for the natural effects from such grants, and if, upon strict investigation it was found that damage was done to the land owner, the latter should receive compensation from the Public fund. That was his opinion, and he did not know how any other conclusion could be arrived at unless to declare goldmining an' illegal occupation, which would entail still greater compensation and make the interior of this island a howling desert, devoid of the preßent industrious population. After some further remarks the chairman was instructed to forward the motion as carried to the Premier, through the hands of the mem.

ber for the district, Mr William Fraser. — Cromwell Argus.