PETITION OF 423 GOLD MINERS OF OTAGO PRAYING FOR REMISSION OF THE EXPORT DUTY ON GOLD.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1871 Session I, I-03

I.—No. 3.

PETITION OF 423 GOLD MINERS OF OTAGO PRAYING FOR REMISSION OF THE EXPORT DUTY ON GOLD.

PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Ist SEPTEMBER, 1871, AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.

WELLINGTON.

1871.

I.—No. 3

To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned Gold Miners and Residents of the Otago Gold Fields, Humbly Sheweth,— 1. That your petitioners are residents on the Otago Gold Fields, and all either directly or indirectly interested in gold-mining pursuits. 2. That, by virtue of the provisions of " The Gold Duty Act, 1858," the production of gold is subject to a tax of 2s. 6d. per ounce. 3. That gold mining is also subject to special taxation, by means of miners' rights, licenses, and otherwise. 4. That the said export duty on gold being a tax on the gross produce, without regard to the cost of production, operates to retard the development of the gold fields, and to limit the production of gold, as upon all the capital expended in providing water supply, blasting powder, and material for carrying on large mining enterprises, the special tax of 2s. 6d. in the ounce has to be paid, which alone might afford a reasonable profit on the investment of capital. 5. The Legislature having sanctioned the subsidizing of the production of gold, by means of the proposed loan for water supply, it would seem unreasonable at one and the same time to tax and subsidize the same industry. C. Resolutions have from time to time been passed in the Provincial Council of Otago in favour of the reduction or abolition of the said duty, and during last Session of the Council a resolution in favour of its reduction was carried. 7. No such tax ever existed in California, and the Australian Colonies have now abolished the export duty, considering it impolitic, and likely to retard the advancement of the State. 8. The only special expenditure on account of gold fields at present existing in Otago is the escort of gold, the mining population being entitled to the administration of justice, police protection, and other functions of government, in common with, and out of the taxes they contribute jointly with, other classes of the community, and are not entitled to pay for them specially. 9. Your petitioners are therefore of opinion that the time has arrived for an immediate reduction of this tax,I'with a view to its final abolition. Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will be pleased to take the premises into your favourable consideration, and afford such remedy as to your wisdom may seem best. And your petitioners will ever pray. [Here follow 423 signatures.]

PETITION OF 423 MINERS OF OTAGO.