A MINES BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 24

A MINES BILL.

OIL EIGHTS. WELfcINGTON, July 1. When the Mining Bill was mentioned in the House o i Representatives to-day, the leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) asked if thpre were any new features in the measure, or if it was- solely consolidation. The Prime Minister, tho Right Hon. J. G. Coates, said that to the best of his knowledge the Bill was purely consolidation, but the Hon. Mr Anderson, whoi’ was out of Wellington at present, had several amendments which he proposed to introduce later on. Mr Holland Do you know their nature? Mr Coates: One has particular reference to oil bearing country. Mr Seddon asked if the Bill made any reference to sawmilling licenses. Mr Coates: That is being dealt with in a separate Bill. Sir Joseph Ward asked if the oil bearing legislation was being introduced at the request of anyone, and if so who it was? Mr Coates said that quite a lot of difficulty had been experienced as to getting rights. It was expensive and cumbersome and the owners of the rights were unable to make satisfactory arrangements without a lot of expense. In the proposed legislation it was intended to simplify the titles The Government would be able to aot for the owners and let a simple contract for an area. The Government wanted to make it possible for companies to exploit these areas with less difficulty than existed at present. Sir Joseph Ward: With the consent of the people? Mr Coates: Yes.