Some Simple Justice

NG Goldfields Seem Entitled to Some Simple Justice

THE savagery with which govern ments can tax private enter prise, so that operations are handicapped and initiative dis couraged, is shown in the case of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.

Chairman J. Kruttschnitt, at the annual meeting in Sydney recently, pointed out that, although the Co., on ordinary standards, is doing reasonably well, its profits definitely are limited by (a) the imposition 3f a 5 per cent, royalty on the gross lvalue of all gold produced, irrespec tive of the cost of getting the gold; md (b) the maintenance of a large import duty on NGG timber enter ing Australia from New Guinea, although New Zealand timber, and the products of the new Common ivealth-Bulolo Gold Co., are re iieved of this burden.

It is hoped that the system of assessing the gold royalty in New Guinea will be altered soon, so as » give the operators there a chance )f developing new goldbearing ountry. Since the premium on gold las disappeared from the world’s tpen market—a very recent event— t becomes imperative that the Aus ralian authority in New Guinea hall implement its old promise, and eview the royalty system. Otherwise, i good many gold shows will fold ip, and likelihood of new develop ment will disappear.

Why Bulolo-Commonwealth and lew Zealand timber producers hould get a preference over timber roducing NGG is one of the minor lysteries of officialdom. Sheer ustice will demand a revision of his thing, also—if NGG remains ctive, and yells loud enough.

The Rev. Father A. McDonald, M, was in New Zealand on vacation ■om Nukunono, Tokelaus, in Feb- Jary. He reported that an epidemic f infectious jaundice had recently fleeted a large number of people n two of the atolls, and it would oubtless spread to the third.