No. 29

I have the honor to forward an authenticated and two plain
copies of an Ordinance of the present Session of the Legislature
of this Colony, entitled:

 No. 7 An Ordinance to consolidate the Laws relating to
Licences.

I add the Report of the Attorney General.

2. The necessity for the introduction of this Bill by which
the Revenue from this Source of taxation will be largely increased
was occasioned by the repeal of the Gold Export Tax.

3. The compulsory mining Licence, I am fully aware, is open
to objection and was found to work unsatisfactorily in the
Australian Colonies. In this instance however the circumstances
are widely different. The Miners themselves have suggested this
system of Taxation through their respective Mining Boards. In
the neighbouring territory a similar Tax is in force at the higher
rate of ten dollars per annum, the Miner has therefore no
unsatisfactory comparison to draw as in the case of the Gold Export Tax.

4. While this Colony continues to be dependent for a Mining
population on the immigration from the Mines of California and
Oregon, I am of opinion that any direct Tax it may be necessary
to impose should be assimilated as far as practicable to the
taxation to which they have been accustomed.

5. As regards the increase to the Trades Licenses I have
heard no complaint that they will act with undue hardship on
any portion of the Community.