WATER POWER REGULATIONS

West Coast Times, 4 September 1909, Page 3

WATER POWER REGULATIONS

PLAIN SPEAKING BY THE MAYOR

In dealing with a letter from the Rimu Miners' Association in regard to the obnoxious water power regulations at the meeting of the Borough Council last Might, the. Mayor said he was surprised that there was not an outburst of public indignation at the protracted delay of the Mines Department m connection with the Rimu Flat project. Although it was five weeks since tho necessary deposit of £500 had been paid by the syndicate they vere still without any title whatever. Ihe latest advices received from the syndicate's representative at Home w.?iit to show that the great delay that hao \ already taken place the chance of sue-

cessfully floating the company whs greatly jeopardised. The syndicate had been moved from pillar to post, and Minister to Minister for a period of two years, and although they had spent about £3600 they, did not have one ifight. The Mines Department wcro always ready to say they were willing to assist the mining industry, but their attitude in regard to the Rimu scheme was disgraceful. It was noticeable that hi all parts of the dominion the press were expressing amazement at the conditions imposed by the Government. In regard to the Rimu Goldfields no proposition had such An important bearing on the future of the district, but the protracted delay by the Government to give the people what Nature placed at their doors to develop the raining industry endangered the success of that scheme. He hoped the petition which the Rimu Miners' Association had asked them to assist in _the-\vay of signatures would contain the names 9 out of 10 of the people oi" Westland ; or more than any similar petition presented to Parliament 'or many years.