LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9171, 11 October 1915, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

SHORT SITTING ON SATURDAY. MINING AMENDMENT BILL. The, Speaker took the chair at 10 a.m. ; An amendment to the Mining Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message, postponing the additional duty of 3d per oz on gold until 1916.

Sir l Francis Bell explained that he had taken the opportunity of getting the Cabinet to agree to this alteration in the bill, in deference to views which had been expressed by mbers of the Council on the siibject. It had been pointed out that’ mining investors in England would bo taken by surprise, and there would be no difficulty in deferring the operation of the additional impost which was necessary to provide compensation in cases of miners’ phthisis. Tlie Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) said there could only be one possible excuse for agreeing to the amendment, and that was that the present gold duty of 3d was sufficient for present needs in the way of compensation to sick miners. Otherwise there would be no justification, in view of the fact that the finances of the country were likely to be.seriously embarrassed before the war was over. It was a notable fact that it was only in connection with mining that accident compensation was not thrown upon the industry itself. The question of additional compensation would have to bo taken into consideration in the immediate future. The amendment was agreed to. ' The Council adjourned until 8 p.m. on Monday.