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Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1921, Page 2

Tiik general agitation against' tin* conservative forestry policy which Sir F. I). Bell sought to impose upon the country is having its effect. Last week the Federated Sawniillers met the Minister, and wo notice from the brief Press Association message sent out from Wellington, where the interview took place, that the question of restricting timber export was discussed on behalf

of the millers of Duller, who emphasised the need for exchange with Australia. We wanted jarrah and they required kauri and white pine. The Minister stated that the Department -tad .never refused to allow an exchange of timber, and did not propose to do so now. This is a very tame and different reply to that given in Westland some eighteen months ago, when the local bodies and the millers had the temerity to meet the Hon Minister and discuss the self-same question. On that occasion Sir F. D. Bell was an uncompromising advocate of bis Conservative , forestry policy in all its determination to stifle the sawmilling industry. Turning up our newspaper files we find that Sir Francis speaking at the County Chambers in final reply went on to say: ; “They would have to understand ‘ ,-thut he was against export. If they said they could not keep the mills all going without being allowed to export, then they must cut out the number of mills and so cut down the output. If they put before him that they bad increased their milling plants to enable for export of timber, then be said that would not affect him or allow them to think they could coerce the Government in its policy. Such a position could not be allow - cd for a moment’s consideration. So far as the legislation was concerned, it had not affected any person, except those trusting to the export trade, and thoso so affected should stop relying on the export trade, as so far as be was concerned be was going to have it stopped.” In the foregoing the Minister was uncompromising to a degree. In commenting on the outcome of the Confluence and in reference to the foregoing we said at the time:— “In regard to the future of the sawmilling industry, it is not too much to say that Sir Francis Bell’s forecast, of the policy ho would direct, created dismay among-those present. Notwithstanding the very able and clear way with which the various as pects of the industry were put before the Minister its effect on labour and the general advancement of the district. Sir Francis was not in any way influenced. He gave, in reply, a cold, unsympathetic answer which indicated that ho was prepared to sacrifice the ' industry for the benefit of his pet* theories, while the fortunes of the enterprising miller, the future o[ the trade, and all that was bound up with it, could go hang, so far as Sir Francis was concerned —in tact he would welcome from his point of view the closing down of the sawmills; it would be a joy to him to see this crash to invested capital now providing a necessary commodity and useful labour, come to pass. It was a most extraordinary situation, and one can hut marvel that this s-iould be the policy of a Government - which is called ‘‘national.’ The Minister plainly stated he was going to stop export, a course, of action which would assist in paralysing the industry; he was going to regulate the cutting of timber in such a way that admittedly fifty per cent, less value would be got out of the forests. All this notwithstanding that millers had installed expensive plants on existing licenses which were now to conic under the Forestry Department, which bad' the power to make what conditions it liked. There was no appeal from the Minister’s position, who became an autocrat, and without intending to say anything offensive, let us chronicle the, fact that judging by his demeanour. Sir Francis Bell will play the part i the complete satisfaction of himself. The position from a democratic point of view is intolerable, and will not lie submitted to. The position is extraordinary in the extreme and will lead to a. revolt in public opinion on the question of government - by regulation. The Minister’s present change of attitude shows how thoroughly our line of comment on the subject was justified.