The Mining Industry and Gold Duty.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 13

The Mining Industry and Gold Duty.

Editor Witness, —Sir: I would recommend "Gold Digger," whose letter appears in your issue of the 18th inst., to carefully read the opinion of the Hon. Mr Fergus on the subject — vide letter, which will probably appear in the Witness of 31st. This thirty-shilling-a-month scribe displays his ignorance of the ■ subject on which he writes by stating that the gold duty is Is 6d per oz instead of 2s. He apparently overlooks the fact that in goldfields countries the non-mining portion of the population contribute only a few. shillings per year to local taxation, while they reap the same benefit from the roads as the miners who were specially taxed to construct them. ••Gold. Digger," in a rather laboured fashion, shows the takes on a 400-acre farm to amount to £33 per annum. Compare this relatively with the takes paid by the holder of one acre of ground of no value whatever bo • far as the surface is concerned, and it must be admitted that the farmer gets off very lightly — viz., the liberty to work the one acre costs 5s per year, equal to £100 per year on 400 acres; 2s per year for other taxes equals £40 on 400 acres; gold duty, £4 per year, equals £1600 on 400 acres. I would further remind " Gold Digged," that eight years ago it was computed from statistics that the goldfields of New Zealand had contributed in miners' rights and gold duty £30 per acre to the revenue, to be expended iv opening up the country for settlement, and to benefit those in a large measure that are not taxed for that purpose. I may say in conclusion that, although I have not payed 30s for a miners' right, I remember ;well when my father used to do it, so I am no new chum at goldmining.— Yours, &c, Andrew G. Nicol, Grey Valley, January 26.