The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 542, 6 September 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1872.

Beneath the Rule of Men kxtxrely justd the PEN is mightier than the sword.

The tew Gold-fields Bill, which was to be a panacea for all the ills connected with the management of the Gold-fields, is now before the General Assembly, and we must congratulate its framers that, had they tried their “ prentice hand” on any other piece of legislation, they might possibly have succeeded better; but, in this case, they display an utter want of knowledge of their subject, excepting so far asjjtaxing the miners, which they appear to thoroughly understand. It is a good job for the New Zealand gold-seeker that other fields exist for the display of his energies, or he would be converted into a purely tax-paying animal, and his position rendered even more unendurable than the convicts working in the mines of Siberia. r ihe Russian Government could not act with greater illiberally to its con demned felons than the enlightened (1) Colonial Government of New Zealand purpose doing to its free and independent colonists, and to that peculiar section of its population in particular known as gold-miners, upon whom is based the whole frame-work of its existence as a progressive community. It appears to us the time is come when the miner should ask himself whether he i< to be admitted into the commonwealth of New Zealand Society upon equal terms, or only as an object of special taxation, and tolerated only as a means of revenue 1 If such is really the intention of our legislators it will be better for him that he should turn his attention towards the Aus tralian Continent or, perhaps, Tasmania, where exist more pleasant and agreeable fields of.labor, leaving New Zealand to the Chinamen and the horde of harpies who prey upon its industry and seek to fatten upon the i bone and muscle of its working population. The whole of the Act is one complete hash of former Acts, including a great deal borrowed from Vic toria, and displays such a jimn le that -»-e cmnot give its ff-amers the credit of conceiving one original idea. It would be impossible for us here to gc

ii lo it tection by section, ah jt contains no less than two hundred and eighteen clauses, and seven schedules ) we will therefore content ourselves with reviewing its most salient points, leaving to our readers a u ore can ful study of the Act for themselves, opportunities for which they will doubtless find. In the first place, the introduction of such a sweeping measure and the attempt to hurry it through the necessary stages before it can become law, are greatly to be condemned Any measure affecting such vital interests and the well being of so many people slio dd not be a ado hurriedly, and amp’e time ought to be permitted for its consideration by those most interested. The Government must be fully aware that Members representing Gold - fields possess, as a genaral rule, but an imperfect knowledge of the wants of their constituents, while the difficulty of communication is so great that hurried legislation is not only an injustice, but amounts to an act of oppression. Tho proposal to appoint Inspectors to look after the interests of tin miners generally is simnly ridiculous, and we can assure the Government that the miners are perfectly competent to do that for themselves, without teing provided with wetnurses. What can be more absurd than to appoint officers to see that miners wosk their claims properly and comply with the Act, investing those functionaries with powers to determine the number of men to be employed whether the ground shall be abandoned or not, to dictate terms for entering and mining on private lands,,and a number of other absurdities 1 Then leases are to be dispensed with, and licensed holdings substituted, thus making mining property insecure and driving away capital. Afterwards comes the most obnoxious part. Each application to construct a water-race, dam, or reservoir is to be. accompanied by a deposit of 51., to cover the ex penses of advertising or otherwise. This must surely be a sop to the newspapers to support the measure. Why a miner desiring to construct either should he compelled to advertise his , intention in a newspaper wc are at a j oss to learn. Then he will be re-1 quirep to pay 51 annually for rent in I advance, It for each sluice-head of water exceeding two, It annually for a residence area of a quarter of an acre, besides the usual it fora miner’s right, and 2s. per ounce export duty upon his gold, should he be foitunate enough with all this taxation and supervision to ol tain any. For machine sites, not to exceed one acre, a charge of lOt annually is to be made, for a business site of half an acre 51. per annum, iu addition to the usual business license of 51. annually That the Bill be determinedly opposed there is no doubt: such au absurdity was never before attempted to be perpetrated. Miners everywhere are taking action to oppt»3 it, and we would strongly advise the Government if they Cannot frame a better GoM-fields Act than the one now sought to be introduced, they had better leave things as they are, and permit the miners to elect local Courts or Boards for themselves.