The Westport Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1005, 17 September 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1872.

The miners throughout New Zealand, with the exception of that section of the brotherhood who are struggling io maintain ' a local habitation and a name' on the Nelson Goldfields, are bestirring themselves to prevent the passing of the Gold Mining Act, 1872, which having already passed its second reading in the House, without much opposition from either side, bids fair to soon become the law of the land unless outside pressure is promptly brought to bear towards excising or materially amending some of its most objectionable features. Objectionable from a Miners' point of view, first as being impracticable iu many of its details, and in other respects ignoring the interests of those most deeply concerned therein ; and secondly as indicting a series of oppressive enactments that will render a Miner's life little better than perpetual thraldom to petty and irresponsible authority. That a great and growing necessity exists for consolidating and amending the various and contradictory laws relating to gold mining is universally admitted, but it is also necessary that such amendment of the present statutes should be as perfect as legislative wisdom, backed by the teachings of practical experience can possibly devise. But there has been evident in the promotion of this particular measure, an indecent haste, a disposition to generalise, to embody put theories, to accomplish in one session the feat of originating and carrying through all its perilous stages a special Act, more for the temporary self-gratificatiou of the impulsive promoters, than for the benefit of those whose daily means of existence are Bubioat to and jeopardised by the provisions of such Act. The Miners of 'New Zealand may be grateful for the good intent shewn ou their behalf, but few will respect, as doers of good deeds, those who now seek to inflict on them an Act imposing additional taxation, a system of irksome espionage, and an unworkable code of regulations. The more especially so seeing that it has been deemed unnecessary to give miners and members of goldfields communities, to whom the proposed act is of especial interest, any oppor tunity of expressing their views thereon. The usual wise and prudential custom of circulating copies of Bills affecting the interests of any particular

class, so that public opinion might bo expressed thereon and the merits and demerits of the proposed measure freely and fairly discussed, prior to actual legislation, has been in this instance disregarded, and it has been a matter of difficulty for either the Press or public to obtain a correct knowledge of tlio proposed new Gold Miniug Bill except through circuitous channels. The knowledge thus gained proves that the appeal made year after year by the miners for a remission of taxation and a simplification of the law, as affecting their special industry has been disregarded. Pleading for bread they have been offered a stone, chastised heretofore with whips they are now to be chastised with scorpions, groaning nnder a weight of special taxation, their burden to the extent of a paltry sixpence per ounce duty off gold has been lightened, but in its place it is now sought to substitute exorbitant licence fees, and, as if anxious to add insult to injury, it is proposed to retrograde to the old Victorian system, to array an army of officials, paid spies in fact, who under the name of Mining Inspectors are to be entrusted with almost supreme authority in the control of mining matters ; not merely in disputed cases but in actual, every day, working details. A better scheme for the initiation of a system of petty oppression, bribery and corruption ; crushing the mining industry out of existence, and driving miners to distant and more attractive shores cannot well be imagined. The one solitary advantage to be gained from the Act as it now stands, is that it seeks to consolidate the many existing Goldfields Acts into one comprehensive code, but it does little to simplify legislation ; it tends rather to establish fanciful or theoretical provisions, it imposes additional taxation, and instead of relieving the mining industry from the incubus of officialdom, which obstructs the miner at every turn of his daily labor, dogs his very footsteps, limits his daily going too and fro, and tyrannises over him as some personified nightmare ; it seeks to place him at the mercy of a new order of officials, under whose benign control he will enjoy about the same amount of liberty as a Russian serf. The evils sought to be perpetuated by this Act are so glaring that the mining population are astir from end to end of the Goldfields, seeking to avert the impending calamity, except, as before noted, in this particular district. It is, however, not too late even now to rouse to action ; recent parliamentary events will to some degree retard the final passing of the measure, it's original promoter, if not the actual author. Mr Gisborno retires from parliamentary turmoil and the new Ministers however much individually in favor of the measure, are not 30 firmly seatod that they can afford to disregard any just appeal from the Goldfields touching this matter. There may not be time or opportunity, during the few weeks the Stafford Ministry may deem it safe to prolong the present session, for the remodelling and reform of the obnoxious measure to the extent necessary to make it alike equitable and workable, but a prompt appeal might result in it's being shelved for a season to permit of the amendment of its most glaring errors.