Assistance to Mining

Western Star, 30 January 1906, Page 3

Assistance to Mining

The Minister for Mines having informed the solicitors for Ihe Orepuki miners who petitioned for an advance (to be repaid with interest) to assist in cutting a water race, Mr J. C. Thomson, M.H.R., has written as follows to the Minister I have seen the letter dated 28th December, 1905 sent to Armstead and Hunter, solicitors, Riverton, from your Department with reference to the petition of John Wallace and others praying aid for a waterrace at Orepuki. Your reasons for refusing to entertain the prayer of petition are two, viz (1), That under the regulations a subsidy cannot be gran ted for less than 15 heads and (2). The provisions of the amending Act of last session for advances for development of mining do not apply to the constructions of waterraces. In the first place 1 have the honor to point out to you that a subsidy was never asked for, therefore the 1898 and regulations were never called in question. In the second place I would submit that the amendment Act (sects. 30 to 39) does include waterraccs and that this particular case is just such a typical one as the Act contemplates assisting. The advance being required to bring water on to \prite a ; new field comes under both subsections (a) and (r) of section 30, and section 38 makes the provisions clearly apply to such a group of miners as are petitioners in the present case since they are not incorporated.

Upon your signifying that you would be prepared to entertain the prayer of petition the evidence con templated by the Act would be immediately forwarded.

I would again point out to you that the Mines Committee referred the matter to the favorable consideration of the authorities and would urge the benefit that would accrue to a district rich in auriferous deposits that only require water to work them, and which would afford employment to many miners.