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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2831, 12 March 1878, Page 2

It is slated that the programme cf the present administration for next session of Parliament will embrace amongst other measures of an important character—some of which haTe already been prominently indicated —the abolition of the Gold Duty. Several members of the present Ministry have long held the gold duty to be a wrongful tax; the 1 abolition would be a popular more with the gold miners of the Middle Island, who are mostly their own masters ; so that shall be quite prepared to find the Government proposing its abolition at an early period next session. The Parliament will be in favor of it, for, if we are to believe Mr William Eowe, he was mainly instrumental in having it retained during last and the preceding sessions. We have always consistently advocated its abolition, not having swerved from the. piinciple even when the Atkinson Government offered a bait in the promise that it would be subsidised as a local tex. Now that the stoppage

of the Big Pump is seriously discussed without exciting apprehensions of general ruin, wo feel sure that many others will come over to our opinion. As to the diminution of revenue accruing to the Borough und County, let them urge upon Mi.tjist.ers the acquirement of the freehold of this portion of the Hauraki Goldficld. That accomplished, the loss of the gold duty would not be felt with the revenue now passing to the Natives accruing to the local bodies, and tho additional facilities which would bo afforded for making use of the surface as well as the bowels of the earth.