The Miners' Rights Question.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3643, 30 August 1880, Page 2

The Miners' Rights Question.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE ACADEMY.

On Saturday a crowded meeting of miners and others interested in the Miners' Bights question was held in the Academy of Music in response to an advertisement signed by Mr A. Hart.

Dr Kilgoor was called to the Chair, and having returned thanks for the honour done him, he read the advertisement calling the meeting. He said Mr Hart had done wisely in taking this step, but it was a matter for regret that he had not done it earlier, as it would be impossible now to get anything done this session. A very general impression seemed to exist amongst the miners of the Thames that the Miners' Bights fees were peculiar to this field alone, and that they arose out of Mr Commisioner Mackay'i agreement with the natives. It was not true that the fees were peculiar to the Thames, but the peculiarity in our ease was that the money went into the pockets of the natives, while in other goldfields it went to the Government to defray the cost of goldfields' administration. One of the points he wished then to lay to heart was that the natives received nearly double what had been originally intended they should receive. He desired to clear the way and show what the law on the matter was. They were aware that besides the Miners' Eights, licenses were granted to companies, which cost them £L per annum for every man's ground of 15,C00 square feet, and in addition to that, every man employed had to be the owner of a miner's right—-thus giving the natives double fees, which he hardly thought could have been contemplated by Mr Mackay in his agreement. He read a clause from the agreement, bearing on the matter, and also a schedule of the fees, remarking that it would be 'seen that much more was now included as matter for payment than had been originally intended. It was time the miners took steps to represent their grievance to the Government. In conclusion he remarked that at one time a portion of the fees went to the Provincial Government for administrative expenses, bat that practise was abrogated by the Act of 71 and confirmed by the Act of 73. (Cheers.) Mr Carpenter said if they had listened attentively to the Chairman, he thought they would all admit that he had dealt with every point of the question at issue, and that there was consequently little left for him to say. He, however, would supplement the Chairman's remarks by giving two or three heads of information. He had prepared a return showing the amounts the natives had received or should have received from the Thames miners since the opening of the field :— £ s. d

Before they committed themselves to any definite coarse of action they should appoint a committee to enquire into the whole matter and see if there was any chance of ameliorating the burdens under which the miners now labored. That it was oppressive that men merely work* ing for their living should be taxed was evident, nor was it consistent with right or justice. The. committee could go into the whole matter, and at an adjourned meeting bring up a system of resolutions dealing with the subject. It was a source of regret to him that this important matter had never been taken up separately in the early days, when no doubt the matter would ere now hava been settled 1o their satisfaction. It had generally been brought up as a secondary question to the gold duty, and bad not been suffi. ciently agitated. They hud been too apathetic in this matter touching their own interests, and had themselves to blame. He urged that communication should be opened with other goldfields, and that a united agitation be organised. (Hear, hear.) They must not lose sight of the fact that payment must be annually made to the natives until the Government determined to acquire the freehold of the goldfield. He moved "That this meeting ia of opinion that a committee should be appointed to enquire into the operation of the miners' rights system in this district, and bring up a report at a further meeting." He suggested that the committee should consist of six members—three miners and three business men of the town.

The following gentlemen were then elected the committee by show of hands, and in the order mentioned:—Messrs McCullough, Carpenter, McGowan; Ronald McDonald, A. Hart, and Clement A. Comes.

. Mr McGowan thought the resolution hardly went far enough, and thought the committee should endeavor to procure an amelioration of the condition of residence

site holders. He pointed out the disadvantages under which they labored, and moved " That it be an instruction to the committee to take into consideration the question of the imposition of a tax for residence sites."

This WBB seconded by Mr Wood, and carried unanimously. Mr Comes said be understood that on the first of next month all who had not rights were to be proceeded against. He thought they should kick against it and suggested that each miner present should subscribe a shilling to test the question of the legality of tax. He showed that the natives had been getting 50 per cent, more than they were entitled to by Mr Maokay's agreement, and stated that they were justly entitled to refund the Thames miners £10,000 or £12,000. He moved —" That this meeting is of opinion that it is illegal to compel men to pay a tax when they have no real interest in the field, and that each miner contribute a shilling towards a fund to be expended in testing the question." Mr W. C. Ord pointed out that if the resolution were carried, it would cut the ground from under the Committee's feet, and leave them nothing to do.

The resolution failed to find a seconder and the meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Miners' Bights, under Act nf'66 ... 33,107 0 0 Do. Do. 71 1,803 0 0 Do. Do. 73 5,236 0 0 I.tisehold Rights, under the Act '66, and Amendment Act, '69... ... ... 4,786 0 0 Machine Siteß, Water Races, etc 17,629 19 3 Total ... ... £59,561 19 3