CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS IN THE NORTH.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 304, 26 December 1874, Page 3

CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS IN THE NORTH.

We have received from the Secretary ofthe Central Mining Association of Otago acopy of a letter forwarded to the Colonial Secretary on the disallowance of the OtagtvGold Duty Repayment Ordinance of 1874. and other matters affecting the goldmining interest/ It is evident from this letter that the miners of Otaoro are fully alive to the importance- of bestirring themselves in order to obtain some mitigation of the burdens under which they labor, and which they consider are unjust and unnecessarily severe. The ordinance referred to, as passed by the Provincial Council, proposed a rebate of sixpence per ounce on gold the produce of the Province of Otago ; but it was disallowed by the Governor, under advice from his Ministers.'because "sufficient provision had not been made to protect the revenue of other Provinces ; " not from, any desire to oppose the operation of the principle of rebatement in Otago or any other Province if the legislature of such Province saw fit to grant the reduction. The letter refers to the first legislation on the matter, the Gold Duty Act of 1858, and says that this Act contained a provision that His Excellency could at any time before the next session of Assembly rebate or altoabolish the gold duty ; the principal object of its imposition being to protect the Provinces to which goldfield maintenance had been delegated from any loss arising from such maintenance. It is well known, however, that the tendency of goldfields legislation of late years has been to perpetuate the imposition of the gold duty, every attempt to abolish it being met with strong opposition. It was a long time before the concession was granted in favor of this district of making the duty a charge on the value of the gold. Before this was granted, as is well known, gold worth only £2 10s. per ounce .was made to pay as much duty as gold realising :£3 Iss ; The objeet of the Mining Association of Otago now is to remove any misunderstanding which might in the future .prevent the carrying out of the provision should the Council re-affirm the desirability ot reducing the gold duty They might go further, than this, and cooperate with their fellow miners in all parts of-the Colony with a view to some organisation having for its object the gradual reduction of the gold duty by enactment of the Assembly, and eventually the total abolition of a direct tax which presses hardly upon an industry requiring the utmost fostering. On all the New Zealand Goldfields mining is more or less depressed ; and a desirable class of men are impelled to leave the Colony who might under different circumstances be induced' to stay and become permanent settlers. The agitation of the Otago miners is commendable, but it is not comprehensive enough in its aim. The figures which have recently been quoted - showing the number of people coming into and leaving' the Colony are alarming. Many of the latter are experienced colonists, more valuable in every i-espect than new comers ; and any reasonable proposition to retain the population already in the country is as much deserving of consideration as the \ system which is flooding the country with people without means and without experience. The united intelligence of the mining communities might effect a great deal in this direction; besides bringing to bear a pressure upon the Parliament, for a mitigation of the burdens which oppress the miners in all parts of the-Colony. The letter we are discussing suggests that the Government should, before the next session of Parliament, " devise a scheme of colonial administration of the goldfields on such a basis as will for ever preclude a sweljing of revenue by means-, of a-: direct tax Qn an industry almost, wholly followed •'■ by-working men." To secure this end it. ~ will be necessary to open' commivriication y-betw'een all-the Goldfields ceritres,-'and : make one united effort;.anything short of this will, we fear, result in failure—• ' Thames Evening.Star.' ,