GOLDMINERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 3

GOLDMINERS.

SICK AND ACCIDENT FUND. ( REPRESENTATIONS TO THE 1 GOVERNMENT. A deputation, consisting of goldfield ; members, wailed upon tho Premier and Minister for Minos yesterday in respect , to tho proposal to inaugurate a pick ami accident fund for goldminers by meant* of a special export duty on tho gold produced w thin tho colony. Mr Guinness stated that the average number of goldminers employed in the colony per vear during the past five years had been 11,732. In order to secure an average -sum per man per year, equal to that paid in connection with tho coalminers’ <dck and accident fund (viz. it would bo necessary to raise jg 1738 per year. Tho total yield 01 gold in tho colony in 1003 was 533,3M0z and a dutv of 2d per ounce on that basis would yield JMO69 a year, or moro than double the amount required. It was, therefore, a quest .on whether it would be liable to impose a duty of Id or of - fl an ounce. It was considered that n* goldminers sulfered severely trom the miners’ complaints, and other forms ox 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 m case of sickness, or a certain sum in case oi death. It was desired that the Government would introduce the necessary legislation to give effect to tho proposal. Mr Kerries said h© was perfectly in svmpathy with tlio proposal, but ho pointed out that the circumstances were different in tho two islands. In the South island tlio gold duty of 2d an ounce had been abolished, but in tho North Island it had been retained. Tho question of ways and means would, therefore, have to bo considered from different standpoints iu the two islands. Tho companies in tho North Island now complained that tiic duty of 2s an ounce was too much, and ho did not think tho 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 ho could not pledge himself to support any proposals brought forward without first carefully scrutinising thorn. The principle of tho achemo was a good one, and he did not think an extra duty of 2d an ounce would make much difference. What tho companies feared was that tho 2d might be increase ed to 6d. If thero was an assurance that it would not bo more than 2d he did not suppose there would be any objection. Mr McGowan (Minister for Mines) said ho thought it was only right that all industries should bear tho cost of relieving cases of accident or sickness caused by employment iu such occupation. There was. however, the question of what should bo clone in regard to engineers and others employed on dredges or in connection with sluicing operations. They would have to decide whether those should be included in the scheme. Ho pointed out that many mining companies were now paying a heavy rent, and ho knew one company which had obtained £20,000 worth of gold and which had all gone to tho miners as wages. Though, however, thero were several difficulties in connection with tho scheme, ho did not think they were insuperable.

Mr Scddon said this matter had boon brought before tho Government as far hack as 1891. The principle that tho cost of such a scheme should bo a tax on tho industry concerned, as in th© caso of tho Workers 1 Compensation Act, was a sound one. In this case, however, the different conditions in the North and South Islands presented a difficulty. There was a way in which th© money could be raised in th© North Island without affecting th© companies, and that was by deducting the proposed levy from tbo duty of 2s an ounce at present received by tho local bodies. That seemed to be a reasonable solution which would meet Mr Hcrriee' objection. Mr Herries; But what about th© local bodies ? Mr Soddon said the local bodies would have less money to find for charitable aid, and it might b© merely a question of taking out of one pocket and putting it in another. Restrictions as to the time within which miners could claim on .tho fund after leaving mining employment, as well as the length of such employment, would have to bo fixed. There wore many old miners who had never worked for a company in their Jives, and their case would also have to be considered. The difficulties, however, wore not insuperable. The matter would be considered by Cabinet.