EVENING SITTING.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2965, 16 August 1878, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

Thursday. The House resumed at 7.30 to-night. 'Gold Duty Abolition Bill.

Mf George .mover* the second reading of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. He considered the duty small, and as it was essentially a class tax, most unjust, inasmuch as the gold miner was exceptionally taxed as compared with other classes. Besides gold duty, a miner had to pay extra if he took out a lease or built a battery as well as his miner's right f<-e. Often the gold tax represented the profits on mining undertakings. It was especially unfair when it was remembered that Government had announced in the Financial Statement that still another tax was id' be placed upon joint stock companies. That is a" tax for the privilege of commencing to mine, and a tax upon any profits the miner might make. Mr Gisborne seconded. He opposed the tax on the ground of political eco-, nomy, that it was inadvisable to put a tax on the industrial exports of the colony. The cheaper they coald produce gold the more they could get in exchange for it. The time had passed when exceptional charges were entailed upon Government by new mining communities starting into existence. At present they had become settled down and become stable communi-ties,-and, therefore, required no more special expenditure than any other class amongst the people of the colony. Still, ke thought the tax "might be made permissire, so that if any particular mining community did not wish it abolished they might retain it. The Hon. JJ. Stout said this was asking the House to vote away the funds of localities. He looked at it more in the light of a royalty than a tax. Of course it rested with Counties what action should be taken. He thought a clause might be introduced in the bill when in committee making it optional with Counties whether they abolished the tax or not. , Mr Mandcrs would not have opposed the bill if it was shown how Counties were aping to recoup themselves ifjihey abolished this tax. There could t& no doubt the tax was unjust and unfair, v Messrs Joyce and Brown supported the bill.; > ■■■■■■.% Mr Pyke would support the bill if he felt certain that a miner would get any

benefit from the abolition at all, but he would not. It would only be the companies 'and the bank who would reap the benefit of abolishing the tax. They must bear this in mind that a compact had been made between the Government and Counties in this matter, and if this tax was abolished a tax would have to be imposed on mining machinery. It was manifestly better to tax productive capital than unproductive. Practically be maintained that the gold duty was already abolished, and the tax under consideration was merely imposed to reach a class who could not be reached in any other way. He had asked his own constituents if they wished the tax revoked, but they were perfectly apathetic over the matter. It was said wool was not taxed, but woolgrower would be quite satisfied to pay a tax on wool provided his property remained untaxed as with the miner.

Mr Barff strongly supported the bill and argued at some length to show the injustice of this-special tax. Mr Woolcock supported the bill. He pointed out what a great deal gold mining had done for the colony as a whole, and argued therefore that it was to the' interest of the colony to foster so beneficial an industry. Mr Howe asked how miners were to be made to contribute to the cost of maintaining roads in a mining district if the tax was abolished? That roads were madlf f°r < aQd used by and for, the min^s, and them only. The duty on gold was the only thing they had to depend upon for the public works of the district in which he came from. In fact, without these roads the quartz mines would be shut up, and the industry wouldcease. He moved that the bill be read that day six months. ' Mr Saunders opposed the bill. To abolish this tax they must impose another, which in all probability would entail a cost of 40 or 50 per cent, in collodion. Mr. DeLautour thought the aim of the House ought to be to despecialise mining interests. Miners should be placed on precisely the same footing as any other class, trade, or calling in the colony. It was the constant effort of goldfields members in endeavouring to obtain special privileges for miners that excited the joalousy of people other than miners.

Mr George having replied, Mr Whitaker pointed out that when the duty was imposed it was laid down in the Bating Act that mining machinery and other kinds of plant were exempt, and if the duty were now abolished and miners were to be rated, then the Eating Act would require to be amended. . A division was taken, and the bill was thrown out by 35 to 24. Mr Pyke voted for the bill.

ELECTORAL DISABILITIES OF WOMEN. The adjourned .debate on the removal of the electoral disabilities of women was then taken. ' • •

Mr Feldwick mored the previous question. The Speaker then put to the House, " The question is that the question be now pul," tlie result being: Noes, 44; ayes, 8. The debate thus stopped, and the question was shelved.

Thia day. Tha principal business done in tho House last night after ten was in committee, when the follow ing Bills were read for tho third time and passed :—Oamaru Waterworks Bill, Land Claims Final Settlement Bill, Nelson, Harbor Bill, Disqualification Bill, Southland Boys and Girls Bill, Interpretation Bill, High School Act Amendment Bill, Waitaki High School Bill and Ellesmere Reclamation Bill. The Callin's IHvcr Bill was read for a second time, The House adjourned at 1 o'clock.