THE PRICE OF GOLD.

Kumara Times, Issue 2719, 9 June 1885, Page 2

THE PRICE OF GOLD.

[to the editor.] Sir —l regret that some one perhaps better qualified than myself has not taken up this matter and given us the benefit of their opinions. In my last I stated that I would throw out some suggestions how we could get the full value for our gold, and I think in the first place our Government should come to our assistance, and, by establishing a mint, give justice to a largeproducing class. Were such established we would get the assay value for our gold, and the country would benefit largely; it, would also crush the monopoly of banks, and we would not be saddled with such exactions as war risks, or the various fluctuations of the money markets, as we are at present, thus forcing the unfortunate miner (who can hardly live as it is) to bear the additional burdens which chance may induce them to put on—find the gold, bear all the risks, and fight if need be to protect them in possession. Our energetic member is just about to proceed to his parliamentary duties, and I think this matter should be impressed strongly upon him, and I feel confident he will use his best endeavours in our behalf. In a certain part oi her Majesty’s dominions the corn dealers banded themselves and ruled the markets, and so ruinously did it work for the grower that the Government came forward and'fixed a certain rate per bushel and thus became the real friend of the people. The jobbers soon collapsed, and the farmer was able to live. I think the establishment of a mint would answer the same purpose in our case. Another way would he to send our own gold to the Sydney or Melbourne mints; this could be accomplished by all joining together and selling only what we could not possibly , help, and in a short time we would be able to send the whole. Then we would soon see whether the gold was of so little importance to our New Zealand banks, as they would have us believe.—l am, &c., T _ A Mixer, Kumava, June 8, 1885.