THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 111, 27 September 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1866.

We find that our anticipations with regard to the proposed reduction of the rate for miner's rights have proved correct, the Legislative Council having struck out that portion of the Bill referring to the reduction. We learn that the course pursued by the Upper House was partly clue to a telegram from a " Warden on the West Coast," which stated that the miners here were perfectly satisfied with the present rate. Whilst we must admit that this was a singular reason why the Legislature should be influenced in the considers/) tion of the question, we are not dissatisfied with the result. As we said in our last issue, we consider it would be at present most injudicious to reduce the cost of miner's rights, because such a step would seriously impair the revenue without creating any palpable relief to the miners. We are not surprised to learn that many persons take exception to our views on this subject, as being opposed to the interests of the miners. We are accused of wishing to perpetuate a tax upon an overtaxed class of the community, when we ought rather to endeavor to lessen the burdens they are subjected to. Those who make this accusation take a very narrow view of the question, or they would not jump to so erroneous a conclusion. No doubt taxation of every kind is objectionable. It would be a very pleasant thing if taxation were not needed and did not exist. But we do not live under any such delectable conditions, and the best thing we. can do is to make taxation as equitable as practicable under the circumstances in which we are placed. We "will endeavor to show to our mining readers why we oppose any reduction in the fee for miner's rights — that is to say, so long as the present system of government exists in the Colony. It must be understood that their waste lands are the only endowment of the provinces. Their share of the Customs duties is only a permissive source of revenue, liable at the discretion of the General Assembly to be lessened or withdrawn. The ability cjf the Provincial Government to carry on the work of colonisation depends' chiefly upon their receipts from the sale or occupai tion of their lands, and it is the obvious duty of every government to administer its public estate to the best advantage — so as to secure the development and settlement of the country. The fees from miners' rights, and business licenses are the only direct revenue that the Provincial Governments, — upon whom all the expense of management} roads, ifec, devolves — derive from the goldfields. The miners, by the payment of one pound annually, are entitled to roam without hindrance about the waste lands, and to appropriate them to their use whenever 'it suits their purpose to do so. In this respect they enjoy a privilege that no other class possesses. If a man desire to pursue agriculture as an occupation he must purchase or rent his land, and his land once chosen he must keep. The miner can alter his location at pleasure, he is bound by no restrictions, — and all he has to pay for the right he enjoys is the immense sum of about fourpence half-penny per week. This license fee is we are. bold enough to say not felt by the miners, and its reduction to one half wi>uld be quite unappre-jiable. Eut, we fancy some one saying, " the miners pay a heavy tax on their earnings in the shape of export duty." To this Aye reply that the export duty is necessary, because gold fields call for large and disproportionate governmental expenditure ; ex-

penditure that would not be required under the ordinary circumstances of colonisation. If the miners pay more taxes than any other class, they earn more money, and cost more to the Government that taxes them. Take the average of the miners and we venture to say they will agree with us that there is no injustice in the miners* license, and that the export duty on gold is supportable — provided that the taxation were duly and legitimately returned to them in the shape of public expenditure. This is the very stand point we take, — the direct taxation of the miners would not be- complained o^ if an equivalent were given for it. And it is to the question of the " expendi. ture" of their taxes, rather than the amount of them, that the miners should chiefly direct their attention. We are speaking now to the miners on the West Coast, where there is so much that needs to be done to open and develop the country. No digger here would object to pay his fair share of the cost of making the country available to himself and his fellowminers. The grievance is that the due equivalent has not been and is not given — that the hard worked, highly taxed miner does not get his fair share of the public revenue expended on his necessities. The remedy for this state of things must be sought for in the proper way, — in the influence of public opinion and the energies of the miners' representatives in the legislatureWould it not be far better that instead of knocking off ten shillings a year from miners rights, the whole sum should be faithfully expended 1 ? Ten shillings reduction in miners' rights would make about £10,000 less for tlte' Provincial Government to spend on the gold fields, and the miners would not feel the benefit. Would not the judicious expenditure of the money be worth far more to the mining community than the small direct advantage of a paltry individual saving 1 The miners must show more" political feeling than they have done. They have great interests at stake ; they are continually and justly complaining of the faults of the Government, and yet they do not avail themselves of the chances they have of exercising influence in the government of the country. We are very glad to know that there is a probability of a bill for giving additional members to Westland in the Provincial Council beinobrought forward during the coming session — and we hope that if it be carried the mining community will rouse themselves and endeavor to work out their /own remedy for their grievances. With adequate representation in the Council, and the proper men to advocate the claims and watch the interests of the gold fields, we should have no fear of the result, and we are certain that this result would far more effectually serve the purpose of the mining community than the mere reduction of a tax, however agreeable that reduction would be.