£200 A DAY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 14, 30 December 1925, Page 5

£200 A DAY.

MINE-OWNER’S INCOME. SIDELIGHTS ON COAL TRADE. London, Dec. 16. The Duke of Northumberland, giving evidence before the coal Commission said that he received £75,431, in royalties during the year ended September last, and received £35,831 net, after paying mineral rights, income tax and supet tax. Questioned whether nc considered all unsuspected coal should eventually enrich the landowner, the Duke replied that he saw no reason why it .should not. It was the same as speculating in shares or buildings whose value fortuitously and , unexpectedly soared. The mineral owners’ committee, he said, mid intimated that royalties amounted to £6,000,000 a year, including £200,000 for wayleaves (the right of passage in a private property;. A discussion then arose as to who ther the law of trespass should prevail underground, Sir Herbert Samuel the chairman remarking: “Nou don’t charge wayleaves for an aeroplane overhead. ’ ’

A commissioner replied, “Not yet, but when a mine burrows under pri vatc property wayleaves are a legitimate right.” The general secretary of the Min ers’ Federation, Mr A. J. Cook, cross examining the Duke pointed out that an income of £2OO a day was equivalent to the earnings of 440 coal miners, and asked, “ Do you thinly you arc rendering the same service to tho community as 440 miners ” Tho Duke: That’s my gross income. Mr Cook: I’m taking the miners’ gross earnings.