WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

West Coast Times, 24 June 1909, Page 3

WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

WATER, POWER REGULATIONS. THE MINISTER" RUNS RIOT. INSULTING ADMISSION. [by telegraph— per press association.! WELLINGTOnTjuiig 22.—Concerning the agitation now going on in Westland, in opposition to the Water Power regulations, the Hon Minister of Mines, interviewed by a Post reporter, said that there was a syndicate in Westland which objected to making the deposit required, and also the survey which provided for going on to any other persons property, without the knowledge of the Department. Also the Company objected to the regulation which provides for the supply of water power at half the rent charged for any other industry, and the applicant is to get the water for power purposes rent free for the first year. The Minister added that he had a strongly worded protest from the miners of the district, against granting the syndicate any concession. As for the deposit, for many years it had been the custom to insist on a deposit of £1000 from any company applying for a coal lease, and the deposit was returned as soon as a reasonable amount of work was done. In devoloping the ground, the Minister will give every reasonable facility to any bone fide investors prepared to put capital into the concern, with a view to developing the mineral resources of any part of New Zealand. In regard to the Westland agitation, he believed it was being engineered for political purposes and the Government was not" taking it seri- - ously.