Section 31: Surface rents.

(1) The holder of a lease shall pay rent (hereafter called "surface rent") at such rate per annum as shall be determined by the Minister for any of the purposes mentioned in section 8(2) and (3) of this Act or otherwise for or in connection with his quarrying operation.
(2) The surface rent payable under this section by a lessee shall be paid in advance without demand at such times as the Minister may direct.
(3) It shall not be lawful for the holder of a lease to disturb the owners or occupiers of any part of the land included within such lease during the course of any quarrying operation until the land is actually required for the purposes of section 8(2) and (3) of this Act.