GOLD DUTY AND RATES ON MINING PROPERTY.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2961, 12 August 1878, Page 2

GOLD DUTY AND RATES ON MINING PROPERTY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) '

Sib,—Your Wellington correspondent in your Saturday's issue argues strangely, and without his host, respecting the effects taxation upon mines-and mining Slant would produce upon the welfare of the istrict. His figures seem to have been inspired by the" Town Clerk, or His Worship the Mayor, and his assertions savor strongly of the selfish policy of these two manipulators of Borough affairs. Let us view the question from another standpoint. The power to rate mining properties would have the effect of closing at least one-third of the batteries and claims upon this field, while the revenue would fall immeasurably short of the amount quoted by your correspondent. There is scarcely a mine which pays working expenses, and it is well known the Borough valuation is greatly in excess of the amount of gold duty accruing to the local treasuries. Taxing crushing plant is simply adding to the cost of reducing ore. The difference between the duty on gold and direct local taxation is, that in the one case the duty is only levied upon actual returns, in the other it would be an annually recurring tax (costly and difficult to collect), irrespective 6f whether the mines or the batteries worked at profit or loss. By the former drainage operations" are maintained, and the. miues on the flat are benefited at this moment to an incalculable extent, whereas by the latter (local taxation) these indispensable operations would speedily come to a standstill, and the Borough Council would shortly become the happy possessors of mining properties they could never turn to a pro Stable account. The miners of this field have derived substantial benefit from the goUduty expenditure, but the Borough Council are seeking to. establish a- new order of things, which being interpreted means collapse and ruin to the district. I am, &c, Old Chum.

Thames, August 12