THE GOLD DUTY—MISREPORTING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 4931, 16 July 1884, Page 4

THE GOLD DUTY— MISREPORTING.

[to the editor.]

Sir, — Mr Petrie m the course, of his remarks at the nomination to-day : quoted from the Argus, of July 1, 1879, certain' remarks appearing in that journalpurpoatingtobe made by 'Mr A. R. Guinness, in his capacity as Chairman of the Conference of delegates of the West Coast Councils in reference to the "abolition of the gold duty. In the course of Ms remarks on a motion by Cr Seddon (Westland) having .reference to the reduction of the fee for miners' rights, Cr Madden (Grey) introduced the subject of the abolition •of the gold duty. Cr M'Gaffiri (Inangahua) opposed the abolition on the ground that the revenue derivable from that source was. essential to the successful working of the County r, Council system in a mining county. The Chairman (Cr Guinness) agreed-(so the report says) with Or M'Gaffin, and in., opposition to ; Cr Madden. Mr Guinness, in. reply to 'Mr: Petrie to-day, stated .that .-he was mis-' .reported in the Argus on that occasion.: As the reporter who reported <the proceed-' ings of the conference for the Grey River Argus on the occasion referred to, I deny that Mr Guinness was misreported. The accuracy of that report printed five years since has never been challenged or questioned till to-day. Surely if it had been wrong the Chairman or some of the members of the Conference would have drawn attention to the report (if it had been misreported), which, was copied into the Reefton and Hokitika papers. Furthermore, I distinctly state that the Chairman of the Grey County Council and the rhajority of the membors Vtatr that time were in favor of the retention ;!j of the gold duty as a matter, of policy, i consider it would have been; better if Mr Guinness had admitted the.correctness of the report and justified his action on the ground of expediency, which I for one fully recognised and endorsed. — I am, &c, Your Reporter at the Conference. Greymouth, July 15, 1884.