MINING LAWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19933, 18 October 1934, Page 6

MINING LAWS

EFFECT ON ARABLE LAND CONCERN EXPRESSED By Telegraph—Press Association WELINGTON, October 17. On behalf of the Mines Committee, “■ r A ■ Bodkin reported to the House to-day that the committee had considered the Mining Amendment Bill and recommended that it be allowed to proceed with amendments. Mr w. J. Poison (C., Stratford) asked Mr Bodkin to give some particulars about the Bill, as there was great apprehension on the part of farmers throughout the South Island as to the effect of any legislation upon their farming land. He had received letters from farmers in Otago and on the West Coast urging that there should be no interference with farming land. He hoped that the House would not pass any Bill which would allow good farming land to be sold for gold mining purposes and destroyed for farming. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (C., Dunedin West) asked if the committee had considered the necessity of putting the mining laws on a proper basis. Mr F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South) said he hoped that the arable land of Central Otago would be adequately protected under the Bill. Mr J. A. Macpherson (C., Oamaru) said he thought that the statements made of land being destroyed by goldmining had been exaggerated. In his opinion regulations could be brought in to protect the few small areas that were affected. Mr A. E. Ansell (C., Chalmers) supported Mr Poison and Mr Stewart. Mr Jones said that in Otago much good agricultural land had been destroyed for all time by gold mining operations. Mr E. F. Healy (C., Wairau) said that there was much English capital available for gold mining operations, and he. too. hoped that good land would be protected. , Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Ind. Southern Maori) appealed to the Minister to see that native lands, such as the Arahura river lands, were protected. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan said that the Bill was largely designed to protect the land, and provided for the payment of compensation for the land affected. Mr Bodkin said that much damage in the past had been done by the freeholder. He thought that the" whole law should be revised and a consolidation measure brought down. The present measure went a long way to protect the agricultural land holder. The report was tabled.