The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 539, 16 August 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1872.

Beneath the Kale of MonEXTiRBny justti the rex is mightier than the sword.

Now that the thin edge of the wedgt lias been introduced towards a reduction of the Gold Duty, miners and those interested in their pursuits should lose no opportunity of agitating in the nutter until the duty is totally repealed. Members representing Goldfields interests persistently, Session after Session, have done their utmost to abolish this iniquitous tax upon labor, and now that there is every prospect of success, no efforts should be spared by their constituents to strengthen their hands; for it must be distinctly understood that, supported by the voice of his constituents, a Member is in a much better position to give effect and gain adherents to any measure he may desire to carry than were ho not so supported. In the one case, there is evidence that he has public opinion on bis side, and he is listened to accordingly ; while in the other, he commands little or no attention, because there is nothing to refute the argume t that he may be talking for mere talking s sake. The Dunedin Burning Star, wiiting upon y 'Jin iVCpoct lit/ on

Crold,comes to the conclusion (although ill the sume time advocating a reduc • tion) that an exportduty is only compensation for ; the land destroyed 01 rendered-barren by the operation of mining for that metal. It is very clear that the writer is little acquainted with the Gold-fields, or he would not have come to such 9. conclusion. The. land destroyed—or rather supposed to he so—is insignificant in extent,while it is go eraily so situate that it could not have been applied to any other uses, and the damage done by the miner is more than compensated by the increase of pasenrage caused by his cutting water-races thiough miles and miles of sterile country. Look at the valley of the Manuherikia, for instance. Here is,ample and sufficient evidence that the carrying capabilities of the runs have been vast’y increased by the water-races pf the gold-miners. An export duty upon gold is no more justifiable than an export dutv upon wool. Both are equally alike impolitic and a tax upon labor. Raw material of any description cannot be produced too cheaply, and the same holds good of manufactures, and when we come ti place the occupation of the goldminer side by side with tint of any other of the industrial or producing cimmunity, it is easy to perceive that he suffers equally from mischances, losses, and the various evils which every other occupation is heir to. In fact, we are strongly of opinion that the of gold-mining requires even more perseverance,- patience, and outlay of capital than is common with other callings, while the great majority of traders, agriculturists, and squatters would retire from the contest in despair did corresponding difficulties present themselves, to those over which the gold-miner triumphantly succeeds In the matter of the “ Miner’s Right” we will not differ with our Dunedin contemporary, as a means of revenue.. The exigencies of the State demand it, but, at the same time, we deem it quite sufficient compensation for the occupation of any Crown Lands, or any damage such may sustain by the operations of gold-mining. Were it not for the presence of the goldminer, and thefortuitons circumstances which caused his presence here, what would have bt en the condition of New Zealand at the present moment 1 The country would have continued a sheepwalk, interspersed here and there—near the coast—with a few potato fields. There would have been no outlet for its produce, save wool, Australia, producing even thing else it required for itself. Its condition would have even been more hopeless than Tasmania, which is about the poorest country in the Southern j Hemisphere. New Zealand owes | everything to the gold-miner. He has conferred immense benefits upon it, and will do more; and, instead of cramping Ins exertions by oppressive legislative enactments, every-thing should he done to assist him. There is no colonist equal to the gold-miner. He not only brings capital with him, but raises more out of the soi’, without interference or entering into competition with any other calling. His presence increases the value of all pioperties and products, while he causes every branch of industry to flourish. That gold-fields are valued in all thinly populated countries we have only to instance the large rewards offered and inducements held out for their discovery ; and even if New Zealand doespossess an abundance of that which others so ranch covet, there exh.ts no reason that it should perpetuate the folly of “ killing the goose that lays the golden egg.” The late proceedings in the Waste Lands Board go to show that the workings of the coal scams, especially on the gold-fields, are the reverse of satisfactory. If they are unsatisfactory ns a means of revenue, they are far more so to the mining population, who, through had legistation, pay much more for the article than it is worth, while they are badly served at the same time, and it appears to us that, like al! other privileges held under the Provincial Government, a coal mine, in a large number of instances, savors strongly of a vexatious monopoly. The system of granting these leases is radically wrong, and the public demand some consideration as well as the revenue. Unfortunately for the Province, our legislators view public matters much in the -same light as a tallow chandler would look upon his stock, and so long as a revenue is derivable from any one source, the convenience or welfare of the public is not taken into consideration, la

spine particular instances, the Clyde pit for example, the coal is worth all we pay for it, but such is not the case elsewhere, and thiough the stijpidity of the Provincial authorities, people are compelled to pay twenty shillings per ton for an article, 1 the cost of which should scarcely be five shillingsCoal mines are leased in the most stu. pid manner, the only security to the public bring that the cost at the pit’s ,mouth should not exceed twenty shi’j lings per ton. How our Provincial wiseacres can arrive at this uniform round sum we are thoroughly at a loss to learn—the Waste Lands Board in their wisdom set a fictitious value upon a very indispensible articleand the public are called upon to pay in numerous instances more than, the article is worth, instead of finding protection against iionopdly. Where two or three pits are in close contiguity the evil cures itself, but where the reverse is the case aud miles of space intervenes, then the evil becomes apparent, and the public are called upon to pay twenty shillings per ton for coal which can he shovelled out of a hill likegravel from a pit, any complaints that the price paid tor the article is not commensurate with the trouble of obtaining it, being met with the reply that the Provincial Government allow that sum to be charged, ami then, short we'glit with any amount of slack must he accepted in the t.argain. In granting leases for coal mines, provision should he made not how much premium should hep rid to the Government, that should I e fixed, hut how cheaply the lessee would Supply consumers with an usable article, free from slack and of full weight; these considerations are of vast importance, and in justice to the’ mining community all coal mining leases should be placed upon this foot-, ing, while care should also he taken that coal pits or quarries should he readily approachable, and every facility for the ri moval of the article afforded. An inquiry into the working of oar coal seams might prove of great public benefit.