The Boers.

Manawatu Herald, 19 October 1899, Page 2

The Boers.

*- The real disagreement between the Boers and the Uitlanders is that the first-named have the power of taxation and use it, and also the power of spending the money so raised without feeling it incumbent to explain in what manner it is dispersed, and the last

named have only the pleasure of pay-ing-up and making the best of a bad job. Of Course it has been made Very clear that the manner the Boets are treated in the Cape Colony is totally different to the way the Uitlanders, some of whom were members of that colony before moving north to the goldfields, are treated by the Boers, and the diplomatic negotiations have had for their purpose the remedying of this unsatisfactory position, without however, success. It must be doubly annoying to these Uitlanders who have to pay such heavy taxation and who have been urging for some reform, to know that a large portion of their taxes have been privately used to disaffect the Boer population in the British colonies. The difficulties under which the mining industry had beSii carried on are not fully realised by the general public. Last year the Boer government appointed an Industrial Commission of whom all the members were Boersj and we quote a portion of the report in which it will be seen that the mining industry, the real work of the Uitlanders, is acknowledged to be the financial basis and support of the State. TThe extract is as follows:— "It is within the knowledge of your Commission that the costs of working a mine may be averaged at £10,000 per month, arid equipment and developement from £200,000 to £500,000 per mine. Take this average of i'lo,ooo per month, and that under existing conditions 100 mines will have to close down. In that case an annual amount c-f £t2,006,e00 will be, taken out of circulaUorii with a resiiit too disastrous to c6n template. To avoid such a calamity your Commission are of the opinion that it is the duty of the government to co-operate with the mining industry, and to devise means with* a view to make it possible for lower grade mines to work at a profit, and generally to lighten the burdens of the mining industry. This, and the developement and equipment of new mines, are a few examples among many others where it is desirable that the government shall take an active part, the mote so when the fact is taken into consideration that till now the mining industry must be held as the financial basis, support and mainstay of the State." The last assertion is very true as from 1887 to the year 1896 the output of the gold from the Transvaal amounted to 6^ per cent of the total gold output of the world, and for the year 1897 it amounted to £11,653,737.