THE HON. CAPTAIN FRASER ON THE "GOLD DUTIES BILL" IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 757, 20 October 1876, Page 3

THE HON. CAPTAIN FRASER ON THE "GOLD DUTIES BILL" IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Hon. Captain Fraser intended to support the motion of the Hon. Mr Menzies that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, but from an altogether different cause. He considered that this Bill Svas a popularity seeking sham. He was totally opposed to the gold duty or to any export duty whatever. He saw no more reason for an export duty on gold than on wool. Ha wished the miner put on exactly the Same footing as other people. Repeal their special privileges, repeal the golddut.y; let them pay LI for porm'ssion to mine, hut no more. Gold mining in Otago had now become a quiet settled inlustry. Let them suppose a company possessing one of those reefs, with a capital of LIO.OOO. They might obtain in the year 10,000 ounces of gold, and after paying all expenses probably very little would remain for net profit, and if they took from that 2s. an ounce—say LSOO, or 8 Vier coni, on the capital it might make all the difference between keeping up operations and putting a stop to them altogether. AVhat he would like would be that the Government during the recess should consider the question, and next session bring in a Bill placing the miners on the same footing as other people, and repealing this duty altogether. With reference to the expense of the escort, that was maintained not for the benefit ot the miners but for the benefit of the banks, which ought to be compelled to bear the cost instead of the Provincial Governments. It was only in barbarous countries such as Buenos Ayres that export duties were imposed on the commo lities produce I ; and he hoped some means would he devised for making minors pay rates in the ordinary way.