DESTRUCTION OF FARMING LAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 17

DESTRUCTION OF FARMING LAND.

THE PREMIER'S OPINIONS,

On his way to Lawrence from Roxburgh yesterday the Premier noticed the mountains of tailings at Ettrick. Island Block, and elsewhere by the dredges that are cutting into some of the richest agricultuial land in the district. In the evening I asked Mr Seddon his opinion about the devastation that is going on, and the hon. replied : '" Where there is land destroyed for all time that is not gi\ing a return for mining, I consider that the Slate ought to step in and purchase up to a given value unless the gold can be taken out, leaving the land for use for all time by man. There would be a dilHculty in dealing with the Island Block land because an English companyhas purchased the rigMs to mine, and to interfere with them might lead to complications and adverse criticism, so that anything done should not be applied to existing contracts. The State has now the right to resume auriferou=> land purchased in 1373 for mining purposes, and it ought to have the right too to resume the land and maintain it for agricultural purposes to prevent it from being destroyed by mining. As a matter of fact, I think that power exists now, and we could resume any land under the Land for Settlements Act. If it were taken under that act it could not be used for mining, and the les«?e under tho lease in perpetuity could not give permission for the land to be mined.*'