GOLD-MINING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 56

GOLD-MINING

SICK AND ACCIDENT FUND.

representations to the GOVERNMENT. A deputation, consisting •of goldfield members, waited upon the Premier and Minister for Mines last Wednesday m respect to the proposal to inaugurate a sick and accident fund for goldminers by means of a special export duty on tho gold produced within the colony. Mr Guinness stated that the average number of goldminers employed m the colony per year during the past five years had been 11,752. In order to secure an average sum per man per year, equal to that paid in connection with the . miners’ sick and accident fund (viz. Aa lljd), it would be necessary to raise £1738 per year. The total yield of gold in the colony in 1903 was 533,5140 z and a. duty of 2d per ounce on that bas:e would yield <£4069 a year, or more than double the amount required. It was, therefore, a question whether it would be advisable to impose a duty of Id or of an ounce. It was considered that as goldminers suffered severely from the miners’ complaints, and other forms of sickness arising out of their occupations, something should be done to establish a fund whereby they would be enabled-to draw a small amount per week in case of sickness, or a certain sum in case or death. It was desired that the Government would introduce tho necessary legislation to give effect to the proposal. _ Mr Herries said he was perfectly in. sympathy with the proposal, but ho pointed out that the circumstances were different in the two islands. In the South Island the gold duty of 2s an ounce had been abolished, but in the North Island it had been retained. The question of ways and means would, therefore, have to be considered from different standpoints in the two islands. The companies in the North Island now complained that the duty of 2s an ounce was too much, and he did not think the local bodies would agree to have the proposed extra duty taken out of the present duty, which was now received by them. In view of these facts he could not pledge himself to support any proposals brought forward without first carefully scrutinising them. The principle of the scheme was a good one, and he did not think an extra duty of 2d an ounce would mak® much difference. IVhat the companies feared was that the 2d might be increased to 6d. If there was an assurance that it would not be more than 2d he did not suppose there would be any objection. Mr McGowan (Minister for Mines) said he thought it was only right that all industries should bear the cost of relieving cases of accident or sickness caused by employment in such occupation. Thera * was, however, the question of what should be done in regard to engineer® and others employed on dredges or in connection with sluicing operations. They would have to decide whether those should be included in the scheme. He pointed out that many mining companies were now paying a heavy rent, and he knew on® company which had obtained <£20,000 worth of gold and which had all gone to the miners as wages. Though, however, there were several difficulties in connection with the scheme, he did not think they were insuperable. Mr Seddon said this matter had been brought before the Government as far back as 1891. The principle that the cost of such a scheme should be a tax on the industry concerned, as in the cas® of the Workers’ Compensation Act, was a sound one. In this case, however, th® different conditions in the North and South Islands presented a difficulty. There was a way in which the money could be raised in the North Island without affecting the companies, and that was by deducting the proposed levy from the duty of 2s an ounce at present received by the local bodies. That seemed to be a reasonable solution which would meet Mr Herries* objection. Mr Herries: But what about the local bodies ? Mr Seddon said the local bodies would have less money to find for charitable aid, and it might be merely a question of taking out of one pocket and putting it in another. Restrictions as to the time within which minora could claim on th® fund after leaving mining employment, as well as the length of such employment, would have to be fixed. There were many old miners who had never worked for a company in their lives, and their cas® would also have to be considered. Th® difficulties, however, were not insuperable. The matter would be considered by Cabinet. • <