GOLD REVENUE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4975, 17 May 1926, Page 1

GOLD REVENUE.

FOR ASSISTANCE OF MINING. LOCAL BODIE'S MUST CONTRIBUTE Replying to .a deputation .of miners at' 'Karangahake on Wednesday night las,t the Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) said that he was surprised to learn from, the chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council (Mr W. F. Johnstone), who had previously'; addressed the Minister, that his council was not prepared to And half the cost of a, public 'crushing battery. Continuing, the Minister said that the local bodies received the gold duty, and the Government got pracically nothing out; of mining operations. The council concerned was in duty bound to assist legitimate mining. (The fact that it had reduced the rent of a mining property was small moment. The council received gold duty ‘for a specific purpose, and the people should see that that purpose received financial help from the; council. He was prepared to believe that there was gold at Karangahake, and it was the duty of the council to exhaust its revenue in assisting the mining industry, and the council was expected to pay half the cost of the battery. The .Government was continually being asked to give, and then give agai’ii, but when the. State expenditure 'mounted up the associated chambers of commerce held a conference and requested Cabinet to curtail its expenditure. When asked in what direction nnnecessa,ry expenditure had been incurred, the. reply was.; “In helping the mining industry.” Yet, in the face of such resolutions, the Paeroa; Chamber df Commerce had (sought the help of the Minister of Mines to ask Cabinet to grant a further sum of money for mining. “You can’t blow hot and then cold with me, you’ know,” added the Minister. Mr E. W. Porritt assured Mr Anderson that although the chamber was affiliated with the Asos elated Chambers of Commerce it ha.d taken no part in the framing or parsing o# the resolutions referred to. Mr Johnstone pointed out that he could not commit his council to any expenditure for a battery .there and then. The Minister replied that legislation was provided, .and the council had a duty to perform.