The Premier and Goldfields.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4887, 8 September 1884, Page 3

The Premier and Goldfields.

(Peb Pbbss Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday. A deputation consisting of Mef&rs. Fyke, Guinness, J. C. Brown, Sevan Hurthouse, Seddon, Gadman, Morris, and Eraser, waited on the Premier, yesterday. .The first andaoost important question in troduced was that of abolishing the duty on gold, and also of a redaction beinp made in the costs of miners rights and business licenses. Mr Stout asked whe! were local bodies to do if these taxes wen abolished? The abolition of gold duty meant losing £25,000, and the miner.* rights, etc., an additional £5000. Many of those present urged that there was not so much, necessity for the revenue, as most Qf the works were completed, and the Crown Lands Bating Act was a scurce oi rerenue, one County on the Wes! Coast receiving between £6,000 and £7,000. Mr Guineas and some other:contended that in order to foster the mining industry the tax should be abolished. Mr Seddon suggested that the gold duty should be reduced one shi'lintper ounce, that the exemption of mining property from the Eating Act should bf repealed ; and, further, that miners'rights be reduced as proposed in his bill. The other members, however, disagreed with this. Mr Stout considered that if the gold duty was abolished it would be necessary to insert a clause in the Mining Act repealing the exemption of mining property from rates. Several members of the depu tation were of opinion that if the gold duty wag abolished there would be no necessity ~ for reducing the miners' rights, and, on the other hand, if miners' rights were reduced, the gold duty should not be swept away. Mr Stout promised to bring the matter before his colleagues at an early date, and would send a written reply.— The matter of assistance for constructing prospecting (racks, and for prospecting, was then mentioned. The question of preparing a map to show the workings on goldfields was brought under the Pre mier's notice, as well as the desirability of obtaining the services of either Professors Black or Ulrich to deliver" lectures at the principal centres of tho mining in dustry, and to visit localities and report on the different lodes when discovered. The deputation also asked if Government would place on the Estimates n sum of £20,000 to assist local bodies in opening up roads, and carrying out other minor works. Mr Stout replied that the Treasurer had no money; the votes for railways, harbors, roads, and school buildings for last year had been expended, and was hypothecated for the present year.—The Premier agreed that an additional Minister should be appointed to devote his whole time to mining interests, and he would support any movement towards having Wardens removed periodically. '