THE MINERAL TAX.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 314, 29 September 1908, Page 7

THE MINERAL TAX.

A DEPUTATION. ' , • A deputation representing coal mine owners, and brickmakers from Otago, Christchur.ch, and Wellington waited on.the Hon. R. M'Nab last evening to complain of- the injustice of tho mineral tax now being collected by some local bodies. It was stated that the tax' was levied under an Act passed thirteen years ago, but it was only within the last two or three years that it had been put into operation. It was levied in some districts and'not in 'others. Somo ratner startling figures-in regard to the burden of'the, tax were given. - For instance, one quarry-owner at North-East Valley, near Dunedin, had his local taxes jumped up from £16 to £136. It was stated during tho courso of tho interview that if tho tax was persisted in somo of tho coalpits, quarries, and brickworks would have to cjose down. Another interesting point mentioned was that sinco the introduction into Dunedin of water-power generated by electricity the consumption iof low-grado coal in Otago had fallen considerably, and the industry was now practically a waning one, Redentlv some of the pits had been working only half-time, and it looked as if they would have to be.closed altogether. Tho alternative was the generation of electricity by the utilisation of the low-grade coal at the mines and the conveyance ot tho power by means of a wire to the manufacturing districts. Mr. M'Nab explained that the matter did not come altogether within the sphere of the Valuation Department, of whicn he has charge, the matter of taxation—both local and general—coming under tho jurisdiction of the Minister for , Finance. He expressed surprise at the figures quoted, and urged tho deputation to wait upon Sir Joseph Ward. "Your grievanco is such," he said, "that you ought not to leavo Wellington without seeing the Prime Minister. ' I think it will be time well spent for you to see him." It was decided to endeavour to obtain an interview accordingly.