THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 23, 20 April 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1870.

One of the heaviest taxed portions of tl community has a good cause of complai at the conduct' of- the legislature in tl matter of the remission of the gold expc duty. The miners at present are payii not only this special duty "on export! and Which wool-growers and political econ mists combine in thinking so unsound win applied to other industries, but they a also bearing further taxation in the matt of fees. These latter meet them in eve: direction, for not a single thing can done without an application to the Wa den's Court, and this, besides weary travj and loss of time, entails a fee. Unfort nately the tax does not end here. He hj often in addition to employ an agent solicitor. The mining pursuit presents t anomaly. Hedged round by proteeti l regulations, the miner leads no charmi life: his equitable and legal rights a ever subjects of aggressive attacks—attacl he has at considerable cost to vindical None escape. Registration fees and leg expenses make a far greater hole in tl miner's income than is generally suppose It is alleged that for his £1 miner's rig] he gains great advantages.- Granted th it is even so, his very presence is co sidered a compensating advantage fro which all classes, as well as the State, profi Let us therefore hear no more patronisu opinions ottered that the miner is favon by getting a piece of auriferous land ai room to pitch his tent upon. The saili gets protection for his seaman's ticke and the miner justly deserves the sam< but we doubt if he gets the same vah for his pound right. He developes an ii portant resource ; he adds to the wealth the country ; he assists to make it prospe ous; and he is, as we have remarke heavily taxed into the bargain for doii so. It is idle to argue that the admissic of mining machinery free of import dul is a concession. It was only at the insf gation of the member for Hampden thi the duty was remitted, as a boon ; artel would not have been then granted but th other sections of the producing communil enjoyed without cavil similar exception Let anyone run his eye over the tariif-li seen in every almanac, and he will at on< see that the boon was simply an act i justice. We refer to these things in r clap-trap spirit, but as helping to lend fon to our argument, that the time has arriv< when the repeal of the export duty can i longer be treated with political indifferenc The time, we repeat, has arrived when must be earnestly grappled with—as a r medial measure should—from differei points of view. Let us examine win some of these are, so that we may just! ask the ensuing meeting of the Provinci Council to pass a resolution recommcndii the abolition of the unjust and oppressi l gold-fields duty. ■ For years past the miners have 1 beenh to believe in the remission of the duti and the legislature having had the subje so prominently and frequently brougl before it, cannot plead ignorance of tl question. Our governing classes have hj: ample opportunity to study the matter : all its bearings. They know, though the try to conceal it from themselves, that th duty is a doomed one. They do not HI to part from it, for it is so useful and i easy of collection. And then, is not tl miner, like the lamb, dumb before hj shearers ? Not exactly so. There is a uneasy and strange feeling that will soon, wo predict, burst forth./& the matter of want of time for prepare

no exchso can be alleged by any statesman, or, in our opinion, any sound grounds for procrastination. Another ground the miners can now urge more strongly than ever in their favor—and it is one that our ■legislators cannot ignore-—is that their produce is placed on unfavorable terms with that of the other colonies. Both in Now Sputh Wales and Victoria mints aro established, and the miners are congratulated apon being made independent of the banks for obtaining the full price of their gold. If the Otago miner is to be mulcted not only in the export duty, but also in the other per ccntages this duty gives so excellent an opportunity of tacking on, the comparison will in itself do harm; but more oppressive will be its real effects—and this is beginning to, be seriously felt. The gold export duty is made the scapegoat why the miner does not receive the difference between <£3 19s 9d and £3 15s —the price of gold in Cromwell. This margin upon every ounce of gold is rather too much of a good thing, although a fine stroke of business for the shareholder in bank stock, though, as stated, we cannot look for a mint, the removal of tho gold export duty would place the miner on eqtial terms with his own class in the other colonies. This it is most desirable on all grounds should be the case. And the colony need not wait for the result in fear and trembling, but with unlimited confidence. Again, the half-a-crown duty per ounce is not returned to the miner. It benefits the coffers of Diinedin ; and once there, how little of it finds its way back to jthe gold-fields to assist those who have so largely helped to build that Provincial Capital. We eoilld adduce a score of illustrations as to the practical evils produced by the levying of this duty. It is sufficient, however, to say, in conclusion, that it cannot be much longer defended on the score of expediency ; while, on the other hand, it is condemned as unsound in principle and oppressive in its action.