MINERS’ COMMITTEE MEETING.

Kumara Times, Issue 1783, 19 June 1882, Page 2

MINERS’ COMMITTEE MEETING.

ABOLITION OF THE GOLD DUTY. A meeting of the Kumara Miners Executive Committee was held at Peters’ Hotel, Dill man’s Town, on Friday evening last; present—Mr M. Borlase (in the chair), and thirteen members. Coirespondenco was read and received from Messrs R. J. Seddon and De Latour, M.H. Us. From the former we learn that Mr Seddon had had an interview with Mr K-dleston, Minister of Mines, in reference to the payment in advance and free water questions, and that the old system must be reverted to, which means two months free water in opening out claims. Orders had been given for a slight alteration of the plan for the upper dam and estimate made, and when these were completed it was expected tenders would be called for. Mr Morris reported in reference to water given to parties previous to the dispute concerning water for opening out claims. He had also seen Mr Gow, the race manager, who stated that he had not yet received any farther instructions as to free water. It was resolved that a telegram conveying this information be forwarded to the member for the district. It was also resolved to ask the County Chrirnian to use his influence for the miners on this matter during Ids visit to Wellington on County matters. The Secretary was instructed to convey the thanks of the meeting to Messrs De Lantonr and Seddon for their communications. The question of the Gold Duties Abolition Bill, which had been read a first time in the House of Representatives on the 25th ult., was brought under disenssion. Tke bill provides that export duties on gold shall be reduced Is per ounce, and after the Ist January, 1884, the duty to cease altogether. The committee bring of opinion that the Bill would most likely again pass the Lower House, Mr Watson moved—“ That this meeting is most desirous that the gold duty be abolished, being unjust to the mining industry ; and that this meeting petition the Legislative Council for its total abolition.” Mr Morris seconded the motion. On being put to the meeting, there were 12 for the motion and 1 against. Mr Moran moved—“ That a subcommittee consisting of Messrs Sellars, Morris, and the Secretary be appointed to draw up a petition re abolition of gold duty,” in accordance with the previous resolution. The motion was seconded by Mr Watson, and carried. It was resolved that the regular meetings of the committee be held on Wednesdays, instead of Thursdays as heretofore. The committee lost no time in preparing a petition to the Legislative Council, and we understand it will be forwarded by to-morrow morning’s mail, to the Hon. H. H. Labmann, for presentation to the Council at an opportune time. The following is a copy of the petition:— To the Honorable the Speaker and the Honorable Members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The petition of the Kumara Gold Miners Executive Committee humbly shewethThat theie is a tax upon gold in its natural state as it cometh out of the ground of two shillings per ounce. That wo regard the tax as an unjust one, for many reasons, and we submit the following are some of them 1. Before the miner can put a pick or a shovel in the ground to extract the precious metal, he has to pay one pound sterling for a miner’s right, and he pays this sum annually whether he finds gold or not.

2. If he find gold and have s claim, the extent of ground which he occupies, say for a few years, is hnt a minimum—--100 feet square—as compared with the quantity he might purchase of land better situated for ngiicultural purposes with the same outlay. 3. In most oases the ground he mines for gold iu is not suited for agticultural or pastoral pursuits. This is par icularly the case as regards goldmining on the West Coast; end, as far as this district is concerned, the surface ground from which gold is extracted is absolutely waste land, which could not under any circumstances he turned to profitable account otherwise. 4. The g ound in the Kunnra dis-

trict, ia as a rule, of treacherous character, and requires great care in working and timbering it. The large number of stones met with also entail extra labour and expense. 5. Besides the miner’s right annual fee, the miners have to pay various other fees for the protection of their claims and industry. We pay fees for the registration of our claims, for tailraces, for head-water-races, for damn, and their maintenance j for water from Government, and for the use of sludgechannel. If we erect machinery or other plant, we have to pay for survey for special sites. And all these fees we pay iti addition to the general taxation. And it often takes from twelve to twenty months’ labour to put claims in working order, during which time the claims are non-productive, and the outlay very large. 6. There is a large area of auriferous ground in this district which would yield gold in payable quantity if the tax were removed so that the miner could receive the full benefit of his labour. Your petitioners, therefore, pray that your honourable Council will remove this special, direct, and unjust tax upon the miner. We submit that if it were removed, there would be less drawback to the capitalist to employ labour in extracting the gold, and the abolition of the duty might cause the industry of gold-mining to be more extensively developed by capitalists than it is at present.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.