The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 33, 1871. " Measures not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 164, 30 March 1871, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 33, 1871. " Measures not Men."

That Lhe export duty is unjust in principle, is conceded by all shades of politician.s. It is on grounds of expediency alone that it is ret-iined. The sum it yield-* to the Treasury is so large a fraction of the entire revenue of the colony ; it is collected with little trouble, and at small expense, and is so certain and regular in its returns, that it is littls wonder that successive governments are loth to part with it. When the subject is discussed, they admit the injustice of the tax in the abstnu-t, but take care to point out a <>re:\t nvmv n;c uiveniunees which would result iroin abolishing it, and t-> r.irni.-rh numerous arguments, which, if nob altogether convin in 2,'. h-ivo been suliiciently plausible to induce a majority hitherto to ai^ree to its oontinu \nco They point out Ihit no tax c-m bo imposed winch will not press unfairly upon some das-; oranotiiov; and if this tax be removed, the doticieney must bo made by some otiic-i 1 , open in a <;TeaLcr or ]<\ss decree to the same objection. Besides, tho 0:1 min^s of the miner are so lar^e that the deduction of a thirteenth part from them will put him to scarcely any appreciable! inconvenience. Admitting tint in taxation as in most mutters, absolute perle^tion is unattainable, that is no roison why injustice, known to be such, should not be remedied. To act otherwise would be i"o postpone re form of all kinds to the milleuium. And if the earnings of the miner are s"> considerable, as they are assumed to be, that cert unlv is no cause tint ho should be mulcted in more than his due share of the public expense It is no justification for picking a man's pocket, tint he can easily bear 1h.3 loss. But the assumption is contriry to fact, at all events as regard 3 Otago. So far from mining being a specially profitable industry, there are xbw employments in which equal labour wiii not yield at lexst an equal return. In December 3 867 when the last census was taken, there were 5634 miners in the Province. The gold escorted during the twelve months immediately preceding, was 153,378 oz , representing a money value of £593,888. This, if all avail ible for wages, would give an average return of about £2 a week per man. But from this, before it is available for wages, there must be deduct' -d the •cost of the tools, lights, powder; the timber used in sinking and driving: the interest and profits on the capital invested in water races, in dre Iges, quartz machinery, and other appliances used in mining, and the amount necessary to compensate for their wear and tear ; and in addition, tho black mail levied by the Government in the form of miner.-.' rights, water licenses, &c. We have no d ite from which to determine with accuracy how much of the gold produced is absorbed in these expenses. But if we take into consideration the high price paid in some districts for water, the expense of timber and rapid depreciation of mining plant, we must conclude that the proportion is very considerable. The expense will vary greatly in different districts from various causes, but we think we are pretty near the mark when we estimate it at four or five shillings a man per week. Deducting this, we arrive at a net average income of from thirty-five to thirtysix shillings. Thc^o were the figures for 1867. The return of gold has fallen since then ; and if there has not been a corresponding decrease in the number of miners, i the average income now must be much smaller. The wages of labourers throughout the Province are certainly not less than this — in most eases much higher. And it must be recollected that while the labourer adheres to the eight-hour system, the working hours of the miner are, in most instances, longer ; and also that the miner's earnings are much lowered by the ranch

greater cost of living on the Goldtields than in the settled districts of the Provinc-3. Thirty -six shillings with him will not procure as much of the comforts and neces-snr'e-i as a smaller sum wo ikl in other localities; an. 1 , this is virtually equivalent to reducing his eirnings. On the whulf, regarding mining as desirable an 'jcu"U) ition in other

... -.. respects si 5*5 * . :iy otht-v, we must conclude tlidu it is the worst p.iid of all pursuits in tlie Province ; while if we trike into account the greater privations insepamule from it, tho risk to hetUh and Hfe, its uncert.vinty and want of permmency, we caimot help rc^ardin^- mining le-s desirable tlnn any other employment. So tar from, sin^linj* it out from all other pursuits as the one most able to bear a special direct tax, of all others: it requires exemption from ordinary ii.-cil burdens' We hope that the newly elected parliament will commence its labours with tli; much needed reform. Experience has not, however, made us san^uiii9. We are convinced that justice on this point mast be extortud from the legislature. We would recommend to the miners tli3 watchword of 0 Council, " Agitate S agit ite ! a;»'it itu •" United persistent agitation alone will remove this raoht unjust and oppresive tax from the St.it ite Co^k.

SoMZWfIZRii aboab live months ago <i in.^inori il, si^ii'j I b} r ;i l.u"^,i iiu:al)or of gei'tleaiL'ii ia L^iwrence, r*. 1 - Iho uooj;ru nice of their hc'fvices as volunteers, was forwarded to the proper quarter Three months elau-^o 1 : 110 lvspon.-se from ti^e Guvormnenfc. xV letter was tueii ioi'ivarilod to Major Atkl:i,.)n by the secivt*r/ appoiiiud by tho mor.n..vi.ilibt;s, ex jtressio^ tlioir <lis:ii>j)oint!nent at not irivii;^ been g'izette<l as a volunteer eo'uip my, an i mjuestii\[>" thi Major l.j iiifb^iii th."ii whether their services v T er; likely to 'oc a/cepted or nor. Thi=; letter, wo understand, was forwarded to the Defence Oillce, but not the slightest notice ha^ been taken of it, nl though two i.iontlii have passed sinc-e it was sent. We are at a lo^s to underbLand this Lick of common courtesy on the p.irt of the (Jeneral Government, if tltey v/ere not desirow.-; of acceding t > the petition of tho^e o'entlsiiieii who were anxious to form a oompuiy, they surely minht hive deigned to have intimated a.s muc'i. We learn from a contempo* .y that a similar petition to the one above referred to was lately forwai-ilcd to the proper authorities from Widmalo, ( 'anter'oury,to whifh the Govern in -nt replied that they were not anxioos to increi?e the number of the volunteer coiv.s, and wev.i .short Oi' arms This decisive reply furnishos the solution of the quo ition as to whether a company is likely to be or^.ini^cd in Tuapeka Bat why does the Government treat the L^vvenee memorial with contempt while tlu one from Waimate receives from them at lea^t a coni'taous reply ? As to th j , scarcity of arms, we have authority for ,'ta L .in; tint a short time si;u:3 the;e \. r eve some eighty stands of spire avmsi n Dunediu, and that a further supply was expected from Wellington, sufficient to make up the number required by all the proposed new companies in the province. -Again, how is it that oar paternal rulers are always prepared to place any quantity CHIHI23 in the hands of the so-called f.ieudly Maoris at the North — a hr c of half-tarried cannibals, wlio.se fe,i\ty can never be relied upon, and whose brutish instinct ever prompts them to tui'n round upon and point their guns at the breasts of those to whom they owe everything, and who seek to protect them — while the offers of service from men, who would prove loyal and true in cases of emergency, are treated with cool contempt, or put off" with the excuse that *' the Government are not anxious to increase the number of volunteer corps, and are short of arms ?" If it is their desire to see the volunteer movement languish and die out, they are adopting exactly the right course to bring about such a consummation.

A FEW weeks ngo we intimace.l thai; it wn3 probable a circuit sitting of the Supreme Court would be held in Lawrence half yearly, and that the District Court, which would be held every three months, would hear criminal oases up to seven yeais' penal servitude. His Honour Judge Chapman visited Lawrence last w/>ek in order to ascertain whether the courthouse and gaol afforded sufficient ' accommodation for the increased amount of business which would be transacted under these new arrangements. His Honour, we understand, has suggested several alterations and additions to the courthouse and gaol.

Mr James Naughton, Jute Commissioner of Police, Auckland, died suddenly on. the 28fch instant,