The Westport Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1232, 27 November 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1874.

It is good to note that; the vis vifae of Mining Associations is not yet extinguished, that while the average mining mind does not soar in aspiration beyond the casual excitement of a day in Court, spent in litigation over dams or waterraces, there yet exists in some parts of the colony little Alining communities bound in unity and who believe action for tlie general weal is of not less import • ance than jealous protection of individual interests. It is refreshing at times to come across reports of their proceedings, standing out as they do in healthy contrast to the apathy and indifferentism displayed elsewhere. From the Switzer's District, well nigh the most remote gold producing region in all New Zealand, comes the third annual report of the District Mining Association. The details of things attempted and things done will interest even men whose thoughts rarely if ever stray beyond the limits of their own claims. In concert with other Associations a conference was held during the year, resulting in the Government having been placed in possession of ample practical information for guidance in dealing with Goldfields legislation. This effected, the retiring Committee speak out plainly, as is the wont of earnest practical men, and express opinion that " polite recognition by Ministers or Secretaries of the proceedings of the*se Conferences is but a poor compensation for such a large annual expenditure as attendance of members thereat involves ; nor does it in any way tend to remove the special taxation, or rather confiscation under which amongst other grievances the mining interest atpresent languishes." Hence, argue the men of Switzors, annual Conferences should be discontinued. But in the stead of Conferences they have asked for something better. They want Mining Boards established, and though their prayer for the present remains uucomplied with they are not repulsed. They argue that Mining Boards would tend to make the present Goldfields Acts both workable and beneficial, without need of further legislative amendment, that as goldfields interests are at present administered there would seem to bo an endless tail without a head, that delegation should be withdrawn and a Minister of Mines ..appointed, that large sums of money voted upon no better responsibility than statistics adduced by district members lead to waste, and that it is an injustice to the goldfields that large sums should be granted to favorite districts for specific works until such time as the special taxation pressing heavily on every miner is removed. Thus the Switzers men, and following in their footsteps the Central Mining Association of Otago addresses the Colonial Secretary on mining matters, more especially as touching the disallowance of the Ordinance for repayment of gold duty levied in that province. On this point the Otago miners are far from satisfied, and the letter to the Colonial Secretary calls attention to some features in connection with the whole question of direct taxation on cold miners. Condensed, and reference to matters of interest only from an Otago point of view, the arguments adduced are these: —"The first Gold Duty Act of 185S contained a provision that his Excellency could, at any time before the next session of the Assembly, rebate or altogether abolish the gold duty, so jealous'was the Assembly of that day that no suspicion should be entertained of making any attempt to swell the general revenue from such special taxation. The Act of 1858, and all subsequent Acfcs, expressly declare that such duty, although collected by the machinery of the Customs, shail not in any sense be takeu to be Customs duties, but shall be laud revenue —this provision being clearly introduced to protect the provinces to which goldfiehin maintenance had been delegated from any loss arising from such maintenance. That if there is any reason why the miners for the more precious minerals in a colony should be taxed on an assumption of a peculiar prerogative of Royalties attaching to the State, the Colonial Government, as administrator for the Crown and provider for the whole people, should receive such taxation. The faofc however that it is not so—that the provinces arc in receipt of such taxation raised on such pretence of Royalties'— abundantly proves that thore is no such valid assumption or excuse for special taxation in existence." That tlio Government should, before the ensuing session of Parliament, " devise such a scheme of colonial administration of the gO'dfields as will for ever preclude a swelling/if ,the revenue by a direct tax on an almost wholly followed by working mea, and that the assistance of the Colonial Government is needed in the protection of a gpeat industry now suffering from paralysis, which i$ not caused by tho attraction the public offer to the miners, but from the pressure of taxation collected for the of (governments with which they hav ( e no j-ympathy. Evidenced by the fact that the best samara are !e.,ving.the colony " These arguments may raise demur, but

at least thoy prove that all New Zealand minors are not content to fill alone the functions of mere digging and delving machines. There is active brain power at work, and to a good end.