PETITION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 265, 3 April 1874, Page 4

PETITION.

The foil. petition is beingcircuited. for signature, by the Executive of t h'J Olago Miners' Association —'

[copy.] 'Co the honorable members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. The petition of the miners of the Colony of New Zealand /;lambly sheweth: . 1, That frequent prayers for -the abolition of the export duty on gold have been made to your honorable body, which prayers have failed of being favorably responded to. 2 That we are, therefore, necessitated to again urge upon you the injustice of this direct tax upon a body of mon who are already overburdened with special taxation—in the shape of miners' ■ rights, registration fees, water licenses, and other special charges. 3. That the returns laid before your honorable House by the Under Secretary for Goldfields (1878) prove that the perseverance of the miners has resulted in the improvement of Crown lands—by the construction of water races, and the introduction of machinery, &c.—to the extent of nearly two millions sterlings; while, at the same time, the miners have added to the wealth of the Colony an amount equal to nearly thirty millions sterling. - 4. That, vcars of practical experience in Otago and tho other Provinces of New Zealand, as well as in other countries, has proved that goldmining is not a transitory, but a permanent occupation, and is therefore deserving of careful legislation. 5. That the miners feel aggrieved because ■bonuses are offered for the establishment of now industries, while their calling suffers frorri disproportionate and oppressive taxation. ■ ,

6. That'we desire to draw your careful attention to the following extracts from the report of the Under Secretary for Goldfields, 1873:

The average earning, as shown, of the miners of /New Zealand is £77 8s for the year ending December 31st. 1.872j but it must be remembered that gold, in the report referred to, is valued at .64 per ox., while in reality the miners received only from £3 15s. to £3 16s. per oz. Furthermore, that Auckland gold is very inferior, being worth only £2 15s, Computing the gold at the price received by the miners, it will be found that the £77 Bs. is reduced to £(56 10s. From this amount there is still to be deducted for special taxes, such as miners' rights, waterrights, &c., as per schedule, ]Nos. 3 and 4, of report referred to, showing that special taxes, amounting to £5 per annum, are levied from the miners; the gold duty alone amounting to more than £2 10s. for the year ending 31st December, 1872. . 7, and last. That the resiilts of the foregoing facts are—general discontent amongst a large body of otherwise well disposed and loyal men, hindrance to the development of the Goldfiolds of New Zealand, causing experienced and valuable miners to emigrate to.

otlier Uolonies, anil-the general unsettlement of raining affairs. Taking'into consideration the high price of living and of mining tools on the Goldfields, we trust that your/honorable House will aee the fairness of. our prayer. And your petitioners, therefore, pray that your honorable House will be pleased to take the premises into your most favorable consideration, and to remove the galling burden imposed upon your petitioners by the gold export duty.