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Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1920, Page 2

According to the Overseer’s reports at the County meeting on Tuesday, the Council is in the predicament of a marooned voyager on an inland without fresh water. There was water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. In re_ igard to its timber supply the Council is in a somewhat similar predicament. There is’forest everywhere, but not a stick of sawn timber available ’ for works! It js bad enough to read of the timber famine in the centres remote from the forest country, but here in the midst of standing bush to find a short, age is a reflection on the commonsense of the millers. They at once draw special attention to their methods of business, and it was not surprising to hea r Councillors pass severe strictures on those millers who either declined to 1 supply timber or who asked an exorbitant price for the commodity. Or Mur. doch advocated free trade in sawmilling, particularly in giving the .“small” man every encouragement to put down a plant and produce supplies. In tideway competition would meet the demands and force down prices. He went further, and said it was the Buty of the Council in the public interests to see that large areas of territory were not locked up to the detriment of the people, but that those holding the areas should be compelled to work their bold, ings, or be forced to throw them op. Finally, as to price, he suggested this was a matter for the Board of Trade, and if what was considered an undue price was attempted to be levied the Jtlie facts should be placed before the Board of Trade, and that body invited to fix prices. The matter appears to be of such moment locally that the Council will have to press further if it wants its requirements filled in a reasonable time at a reasonable price.

.The position is a remarkable one in a dis triet such as this where there is forest everywhere. To meet the position the Council proposes to ask for special reservations, so that timber will he conserved for public works. No doubt what affects the local body affect’s also the Government, as well as other adjacent local bodies, and the suggestion arises whether State sawmills areas should not he set apart at convenient places to meet the demands to cover a

considerable period of tbo -future., as well, of course, a s the immediate present. The stringency at the moment may bo due to special circumstances whiqh might pass quickly. Within the year a number of fresh mills are to start in this neighbourhood, and their activities should meet the local demand* but the time will come in due course when there will be a stringency due to actual depletion, and it- is a question of policy whether that period should not bp anticipated by now- setting apart areas for reservation for State sawmills for future public works, whether carried out by the Government or the local bodies. The high price to which tinir ber is soaring might leave one useful purpose and that- is. in forcing the ilocal bodies to adopt more permanent material, such as concrete, for their public works, as also public buildings. 'lhe ventilation given to the subject now will -lead up to the whole matter being reviewed very closely by the authorities, and the outcome will be no doubt more stringent conditions imposed on the' iniller s when seeking for rights or concessions from the public bodies.