KAURI GUM LICENSES, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9151, 5 September 1888, Page 3

KAURI GUM LICENSES, ETC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —A well-known New Zealand colonist, long resident in and closely identified with Auckland, in whose prosperity he is always deeply interested, sends the enclosed from Brighton, in England, where he is living at present. Would you be so good as to publish it? and oblige yours, &c., C. Extract from the Wellington Evening Post, 29th May, 1888 :—" The annual license fee for digging kauri gum in the Northern forests has been fixed by Government at 10s, But within State forests digging will only be permitted between Ist May and 30th September." Attention ought to be called ho this in the Auckland newspapers. It is a vile impost on a Northern industry and export. Kauri gum is only found in the Auckland province, not in the Wellington or Southern districts of the colony. It is not a profitable work. Those who do this work earn only small wages. Why should the gumdigger pay a license, and shepherd, and those who get regular work at coal mines not do so ? Kauri gum is not found in forests. It gives employment to many Europeans ana Maoris, and a good export from Auckland, This ought to be encouraged, and why should the diggers be restricted to the winter months only? .... If the railway was made from Wailiato to T&ranaki, and thus connect it with Auckland, then the Waikato coal mines would give fuel for the railways, settlers, and towns at a cheap rate, and employment for many, and save export of coal by sea.—l am, etc., G.G. Brighton, England.