Gold-Seekers

Lighter Costs For

New Guinea and Gold Royalty

THE request made in the Federal Par liament a year ago by the member for Kalgoorlie (Mr. Green), that the 5 per cent, imposed on the export of gold by the New Guinea Administration should be abolished so far as “small" miners and prospectors are concerned, appears to be still “under consideration".

Early in May, Mr. Green asked if any thing had been done, and the Minister now in charge of Australian Territories (Mr. Perkins) said that the matter had been examined by the Administrator of New Guinea, and considered by the Executive Council, but no finality had yet been reached.

It probably will be found that the Ad ministration is in favour of the principle of the proposal, but that it is difficult to find any method by which it may be put into operation.

At first glance, it seems simple enough to say that a small miner, or prospec tor, entitled to the concession, would be a man whose total net income did not exceed a certain amount; but the intro duction of such a system would mean, of course, that there would be an obligation upon all gold producers to submit to the Administration, each year, a return somewhat similar to the accursed income tax return which has to be submitted by practically every person in more civ ilised countries. That is the one thing above all others that the New Guinea community should avoid. One of the main attractions of life in the Pacific Territories now is that the people there are free of income tax.

There is another objection to the sys tem. If it were once agreed that men with a certain net income should not pay the gold royalty, it is inevitable that various other men with larger incomes would transfer certain of their gold ex ports to their less fortunate friends, and the whole system thereby would be abused.

Yet it is not only desirable, but de finitely necessary, that some relief in the form suggested be given to the small miners and prospectors in New Guinea.

There still are large numbers of them there, and their expenses—represented chiefly in labour and transport—are very heavy. During the past 15 years they have worked all the richer and more accessible gold deposits and, for the most part, have made profits which have en abled them to pay the 5 per cent, roy alty without hardship. But now the day has come when the gold deposits still available to them are not so rich, and unless some part of the expenses is removed, a considerable section of these individual miners and prospectors will go out of the country.

This obviously would be a calamity for the Territory. From every point of view, it would be to the advantage of the Ad ministration to encourage these men to remain and continue their industry.

Lighter costs will make the poorer gold deposits profitable. It should not be be yond the ability of a competent Admin istrator to find a method of giving the small men this suggested measure of re lief. without dislocating the financial system or opening the door to a series of abuses.

Rev. G. T. Warren, formerly of the Me lanesian Mission station at Maravovo, Solomon Islands, has taken up work in the parish of St. Martin’s, Croydon, Eng land.