20th February 2002 Dear Editor// Compensation to landholders

Every miner is entitled to peg two claims and compensation paid to the landholder is $15 per claim for loss of income.

$50 compensation would be an increase of $35 per claim so I see that $50 compensation to the landholder is fair where loss of income has occurred.

Loss of income by one farmer is as follows: This farmer did run 2500 sheep. At this point in time he runs nil. Ninety percent of his land is taken up with mining. There are also preparations being made to put a puddling site on his holding paddock to the shearing shed.

This farmer should receive $50 per claim compensation for his sole loss of income from farming. Multipegging

At this point in time someone takes out an OPB, finds a patch of opal-bearing country, pegs 80 odd claims and registers same in company and foreign names.

They are brought in for this purpose.

The finder of the field is granted a "rewards" claim, which is eight claims under one title, by the DMR. The "reward" claim is fair. Multipegging is not. This has up to nine claims, leaving in total up to 70-odd claims to be pegged by other miners in this area. More people could then support the town.

Under the present system of multipegging $50 compensation would be expensive but only a small charge to miners with two claims.

We all know who the multipeggers are!!

"Two Claim Miner"

Name and address supplied