MR. PRITCHARD MORGAN (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of Crown leases and licences have been granted to persons to work for gold and silver in private lands and Crown lands 5 in Wales since the year 1885; how many of the lessees or licencees have proceeded to develop their mines to such an extent as to produce gold and pay royalties, and how many have paid Crown royalties; what is the aggregate amount of Crown royalty paid on gold and silver obtained in Wales since 1885, and by whom was it paid; what is the value of the silver acknowledged to have been obtained from the mines of Great Britain since the year 1875, and what amount of royalty has been paid to the Crown upon such production; does the same prerogative apply to silver as to gold; is it a fact (as sworn to in the Court Chancery lately by the Receiver of Crown royalties) that the amount received by the State by way of royalty on gold, during a period of 22 years preceding the year 1886, was in the aggregate £17 2s. 2d., or an average of 11s. 9d. per annum; does the Crown claim not only to be entitled to the gold and silver in private land, but to grant licences to work the mines in such land, and to erect machinery on such lands, and to divert and utilise the water running through such lands for mining purposes, and if it claims the right to erect machinery, and utilise such water, by what right are such claims made; and will the Government consider the advisability of reducing the royalties as suggested by those interested in mining, for gold and silver in Wales, either to such a share of the profits as will not be prejudicial to them, and prohibitive of the industry, or, failing that, to 1 per cent, of the gross product of the gold obtained in private lands, and 2 per cent. of gross product on gold obtained from Crown lands, as also suggested by those interested in the industry, and thus allow the mines to be worked for the mutual advantage of the mine owners and the State?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe number of Crown leases and licences granted to persons to work for gold and silver in private lands and Crown lands in Wales since 1885 is 447. Crown royalties have been paid in respect of five of these, and the aggregate amount of Crown royalty paid in these cases has been £1,578. The value of the silver obtained from the mines of Great Britain since 1875 amounts to £1,155,000 in round figures. 6 But it is impossible to state the exact amount of the royalty received, as the Crown has not found it expedient to insist on pre-emption of the lead ore containing silver obtained from lead mines belonging to the subject. The same prerogative applies to silver as to gold. The hon. Member is in error in supposing either that it was a fact or that it was sworn to by the Receiver of Crown royalties that the amount received by the State as royalty on gold between 1864 and 1886 was only £18. The Receiver's statement had reference to one mine only, and the total amount received in the period has been £2,150. As regards the seventh question, the Crown not only claims mines Royal of gold and silver, but also the necessary easements for working them. Certain proposals have been made for reducing the royalties in the Morgan mine, but these proposals will be best understood from the correspondence between the hon. Member and the Woods and Forests, which I am prepared to lay on the Table if the hon. Member will move for it; but I may say generally that the Government are not prepared to reduce the royalties, the proceeds of which go into the pockets of the taxpayer, if the reduction of the licence should simply enable its holder to sell his rights at a higher price to a mining company.