WATER MONOPOLY

Western Star, Issue 1291, 24 February 1897, Page 2

WATER MONOPOLY

Before business was commenced at the Warden’s Court yesterday. Mr Moffett said he bad been requested byjseveral miners to point out that to grant large water rights at the Waiau would lead to monopolies, which would bo inimical to the interests of mining. They were of opinion that some of the applications before the court for water war.for quantities larger than any individual miner would require. He also uuntioned that the Mines Department had issued a circular to Wardens regarding the same matter. The Warden said that was so , and if be attended the conference at Wellington on the Consolidated Mining Bill the government intended to introduce, he would endeavour to have a clause inserted that in all eases where large rights were granted the prices to bo paid for water would be fixed by the Warden in order to prevent the holder of water rights from levying blackmail on miners requiring to use it, and that-where the price of water was too high, that the miner would be able to come to court to have the price fixed the same as tenants in,lreland could do if they thought their rents were excessive.