WATER-POWER REGULATIONS. PROTESTS IN WESTLAND. HOKITIKA, June 21.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 34

WATER-POWER REGULATIONS. PROTESTS IN WESTLAND. HOKITIKA, June 21.

Meetings continue <o be held throughout Wcstland in opposition to the waterpower regulations, recently gazetted. It is held that every encouragement should be given to bring capital into New Zealand without harassing regulations necessitating the preparation of costly plans and ths production of a heavy deposit. It is al=o thought that power rights phould be rent free till the \entures, which in-, volvo very heavy expenditure, prove a success. In the case of the Rimu-Sed-don's Terrace gold field a proposal is afoot to ficat a company of over £100.000 to derive power from t]ie Toaioha River to pump water on to the field fur hydraulic mining purposes. Ucder the regulations tins necessitates a deposit of £500 and the preparation of plans, etc., at a cost of £2000, while an annual rental of £2200 will be required by the Government for water rights, whence the power is derived. This is in addition to the usual charges under the Mining Act and local rating. The extra impost tends to stifle enterprise, and pievcnts capital coming in ; hence public meetings of protest and lequeets for a modification of the regulation'-. Other .meetings \yijU be held during the #eek ij Ih'e country <^tricte t