WESTLAD COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1921, Page 4

WESTLAD COUNTY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, .MARCH Bth. 1 <-oi The Council met at 2 p.m. Present. [cssrs J. A. Murdoch (County Chair- jn ian). L. H. Morel, T. R. Chosterman, tal Ward, .J. Ritchie, E. A. Wells, M ■ L. Chinn, W. Jeffries and T. W. Duff, pi The minutes were confirmed and out- lij •ard correspondence approved. ta: MOTION OK CONDOLENCE. The Chairman referred to the death (. if Mr T. V. Byrne, a former member of m I R . Council and Chairman for a term -'o le moved that the Council record on nr he minutes its appreciation of past i icrviees and a motion of sympathy with .lie widow and family in their bereave- n meat. —Seconded by Mr Ouff and cai- tb iod in silence. 1:1 INWARD COREESPOND ENCE. Krom Treasury, ' forwarding Cold- ; fields revenue for road grants.-- Re- t ceived. From Governor-General, slating protest against Greymouth Harbour t om- - missioncrs declining to admit, evidence * affecting administration had been referred to responsible advisers tor consideration. Received. ' From Hon W. K. Massey, Wellington replviug to Council’s representation against the Grey Harbor Commission refusing to admit evidence, and stating even if it could he proved that the present conditions were due to mal- : administration in the past, he could not admit that the question of boundaries were necessarily affected. The rating ~,ca is defined to enable a rate to he struck, if necessary, but it would not b L . an obligation to levy a rate if the requisite finance can be arranged without it.—Received. Mr Murdoch moved that the letter be received and acknowledged. He considered the letter did not cover the point raised by the Council and would move that further representations he made on the matter. His charge ua,s that the Harbor Commission did not cover the grounds of their appointment. If the Board had carried out its duties in the past in the proper way, there would not have been any necessity to allow their endowments to be done nwav with. He urged that the matter be not allowed to drop, and that the letter be replied to accordingly. Mr Ward supported. The iniquity ol tlie thing was that the Grey- Harbor Hoard had incurred a certain liability. We had no say in the incurring of the liability, but now there was a move to draw us in as security for a debt over which we laid had no control. And tor that reason he thought they should pro test until justice was done. The t Itairman’s proposal was agreed to. Krom Mines Department, consenting to the transfer of LOS, Ward road vote for the benefit ot Lake Kanieii road. Received. Krom Child' Telegraph Engineer, repelling there is sufficient room on the side of the road between Lower Kokatalii and Koiterangi for private telephone on separate lines, and regretting permission cannot he granted for use ol Government line. Received. Krom Commissioner of Taxes, appending information of tax deductible from interest coupon.- held by debenture holders. Received. Krom Board of Trade, circular dealing with building regulations and aj>plieations lor buildings or construction work ot a major nature should go lorward to the Inspector ol Factories. Received. Krom Resident Engineer, Public Works, requesting notices be placed at bulb ends uf the Kanieii bridge limit ing total loads in 2 ton- tunli. • Received. Mr Wells moved that Hie Public Works Department be urged to take active steps to repair Kanieii bridge. Seconded by Mr Cliesterman and carried. From Same, stilting the main road, Wailm to Cooks, has not been thrown open yet for wheel traffic, hut when it is the matter of open crossings and culverts will receive attention. —Received. Krom Same, promising when funds are available to deviate Maliitahi track and effect repairs. Received. ; From Same, advising arrangements are being made for an engineer to make the necessary survey for the Rruee Ha\ landing. Received. Front Same, intimating owing to shortage of staff Slippery Face deviation and other outstanding works in South We it land are held tip. hut immediately an engineer is available works will proceed. —Received. Mr Jeffries stated he had recently been in Smith Westland, and as a result of tilt' visit lie was of opinion that the proposed 'deviation of Slippery Face road would be ruled out by the engineers as soon "as it was inspected, as ir meant a repetition of flic trouble. He was of opinion that the mails of South Westland were a national monument uf the stupidity and folly of the Government officers. He was of opinion that if a lot of the inland roads were thrown up and a new road was put in along the beach that at the end nf twenty years a saving of thousands of pounds would lie effected. He was astounded at the manner in which many of the roads have been made. At the present time roadmen at some places were constantly repairing washouts, where the same work had been carried out time and again and would continue while the roads were there in their present position. From Same, in reference to the drainage carried out at La Fontaine creek, and stating considerable improvement resulted.—Received. From I.nglis Bros.. Ltd., Wellington, catalogue and plan of the A.E.C., -.1 ten Chassis fitted with hydraulic hoist and if required quotation would he submitted. Received. From J. Hamlet and Coy., Christchurch, stilting their tipping lorries wore worked at Halswell quarries.— Received. From Mark Sprot and Coy., Greymouth, offering terms for sale ol lour wheel drive truck and, appreciating remarks regarding truck exhibited last month.—Received. From International Harvester Coy., Christchurch, particulars of the value of the three cubic yard hydraulic tip body.—Received. From Kokatahi Sawmill Coy., ex- j tending thanks for repairs effected • to White road, and arrangement intended for furthr improvements.—Received. From Eric E. James, Maliitahi, offering to maintain efficient ferry over Paringa river for the sum of £5 per annum.—Received; After discussion it

as resolved that the application be C Id over until the whole question ol 1’ rry reserves was dealt with by a submimitteo ot the Council. I From A. Wrobleske, resigning his | losition as Stock Ranger in the Koka- t ihi district. Received and accepted. , , From Hewer and Sons, Heropo, ap- i ( ,lying for permission to put down a | ight wooden tramline across La Foil- j line fronting their sawmill—Received. j_ From Norman Friend, thanking the 'ouneil for putting Waitangi track in j , r il ol - and stating good work had been ( one. — Received ; On Mr Jeffries recom- j laudation a further subsidy of £ fm £ , i' Lid was agreed to. j From V. Williams, Weheka, forward-! ilia S Ken beaks and claiming L2 for !u>m at bs. each. —Received ; no action a ken. From Kanieii Electric Ltd., regardj n(r protection ol the high tension transmission line from Kanieri to Hokitika, a lid intimating every precaution' rill be observed and the works install- j rd according to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department. -Received ; j •s satisfactory. j From West Coast Ambulance As so- i ciatinn, asking co-operation in provid-! Ing funds for the purchase of a motor unbalance to bo stationed at the Westkind Hospital, and appointment of two representatives to assist in making arrangements.- Received; Messrs Jeffries and Duff were appointed to represent the Council. From Kanieri Sawmill Coy., notice ol discontinuance of the use ol the Kniiifri bridge for hauling heavy loads m future as loads would be carried across the railway bridge. - Received with satisfaction. the Chairman expressing his pleasure at the Company assisting the Council in the matter. From F. Woodham, I la ri I la ri, submitting tender for Little Wanganui track of £ll.—Received; act ion of town members in accepting the tender, was approved. From Improvement Committee, Oktirtt, setting out the sites selected lot ferrv reserves at Waiatoto and llaast l ivers, and arrangements” made tor the upkeep of the ferries in that locality. - Received. From Same, drawing attention to requirements especially to structures across llapuka creek (carried away h,v heavy Hood) and one over Collyer’s creek needing new piles ; also to spend L‘2d on a bridge along the llaasl(lkuru track. — Received. From Overseer Milliter. reporting gravelling necessary lor the road from Doughty to the Upper Kokatahi at a cost of LI 2 Ids and minor works needed in the Stafford, Kanieri and Rimu R idings.— Received ; and works enumerated authorised. From T. F. V. Seddon M.R., forwarding letter from Minister of Public Works that if at all possible an engineer would he sent into the hat Sutitl. regarding the carrying out of urgent works in that locality.—-Received. From Postal Department asking permission to store motor cycle in ( ountj shed. Received; request granted. From Tourist Minister asking that proposals for the expenditure of varium grants he submitted lor approval. Received. From M. Collett stating he was tin able to take up the toreinansliip on Peterson road works. Received. From Ivor Steel and paitv asking per mission to cross mailt road near Ktt mara cemetery with a tiamvay line for log hauling to sawmill near Sandy’s Hill.—Received; request granted stiff ject to usual conditions. From \Y. A. Cooper, asking remissiot of rales and rent in respect to abati dotied mining proper!.' the rights t< which has not been cancelled.- - Recoiled ; request agreed to. From Overseer Mdiner reporting m small road works necessary at Koka triHi ; also satisfactory trial with Du plex four wheel drive lorry delivering mini on White Road, -Received. From Roadman Nolan reporting ot district works in Okarito Riding.—Re ceived. From H. Dimmiek asking for roa< near his property Koiterangi to he pit in order.- Received; Overseer Millinv estimated it would cost £.‘sb to put it temporary repairs and to gravel tin road would necessitate a vote of LISO It was resolved that the services c Mr King, ferryman at Three Mile, ff dispensed with, and that the positioi he offered to Mr L. Wilson. QUESTION OF RANGER. Mr Morel said he understood that D ranger at Kokatahi had resigned, am lie wished to know if the duties of M: Thomson, ranger in the Southern dis triot could not lie included for the Koka tahi and Koiterangi district. Mr W. Thomson was present and dis cussed the matter, stating he would b< prepared to include the Kokatahi Koiterangi valleys in his district for at increase of LOO per year. He statei that on his recent visit to Haii liar district lie laid found almost a total aff sence of wandering cattle. The Council agreed to give eon sideration later. Subsequently the Council discusset the matter and then Mr Jeffries inovet that Mr W. Thomson he offered the position of County Ranger at a salan of Ll7b for one year. —Seconded by Mi Amis and agreed’ to. DEPUTATION. Messrs David and John Bradley o Arahura, with Mr Pilkington, wailei on the Council over the overflooding o their land at Arahura Valley whirl they claimed'was due to the erection ol protective works near Olderogs. Thi* prevented the Hood waters going dowi an old flood water course. Mr Bilkington addressed the Council on the subject at some length, inviting the Colin cil to meet the settlers on the ground to look into the matter. The Chairman expressed his appreciation at the deputation placing theii views so moderately he I ore them. Hi promised an early reply to their representations. The deputation then withdrew. The Council later discussed the subject, when the waiter was referred tc the Chairman to deal with. MOTOR. TRUCKS. Mr Wagner waited on the Council in connection with the motor truck hydrau. lie tip, for addition to motor trucks. | FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Your Committee have the honor to report that the faccuunts presented for the month of February, 1921 have been careful examined, and beg to recommend that the amount as approved, namely £l2-12 15s 3d general account, and £1199 ]ss. loan transfer account to

- ( I'ounly Fund Account be passed for i layment.— Received. f COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. t 1 have the honour to report that Mr ] Duff, the Clerk, and myself represented k the Council at a Conference called by the Grey County Council to consider the question of royalties. It was resolved : (a) That the members of Parliament .representing Motueka, Buffer, and Westland watch the progress ol legislation at the forthcoming session with regard to any attempt being made topromote the interests of the Forestry Department in reference to present revenue accruing to the County Councils from timber royalties, and it considered necessary by the members, the) Buffer. Inangahua, Grey and Westland j Counties are each to send to Wellington a representative to give evidence before a Parliamentary Committee should any legislation ol the eharaetci referred to he so promoted ; and you j will he asked to-day to nominate a re- | presentative accordingly so that he tint) ! depart at short notice on the important j mission referred to. I (b) That the local bodies take steps ! to urge Government to repay revenue which it is believed are withheld illegally, as was evidenced in 1914-15. when the Government repaid to this Council LI 90S of deferred revenue so held. J With regard to the former resolution 1 i;t) 1 beg to nominate Mr Jeffries as the Council’s representative to attend the Parliamentary Committee as above te--1 ferred to. 1 With respect to the latter resolution ‘ (h) 1 beg to move that application be ’ made to the Commissioner of Crown ' Lands at Hokitika, and also to the Warden at Hokitika for a return of all timber royalties and revenues (includ- ' ing rents) which have accrued since 1 April Ist, 1901), front areas or tracts of s country known as Midland Railway reservations, with a further statement - as to the amount thereof paid to the r Westland County Council. I And. further that the Prime Minisl' ter be invited to fulfil the promise made in 1913, wherein lie stated to a .West Coast County Council deputation at II Wellington that the Government hat s no intention Of taking the royalties V from local bodies, and further that a s change from Warden control would not be made till it was shown to he do- ' si ruble, and also, that the question ol treating certain timber area rents as IS goldfields revenue and royalties would 11 be decided definitely ; and to this end a tlm Government be asked t<> appoint- at l_ officer from the Lands Department am 11 an officer Irntu the Warden s Office with a local body officer to go into tin timber yielded revenue, an-l review the 1' allocation as it has been in vogue a; v between the Government and Hie locti l_ body. h Since the loregoing was arrived a t the Director of Forestry (Captain L Mclntosh Ellis) called on me, and dis r " cussed the position. He gave his as ,Y siirance that as iar as he was concerned there would be no legislation suel 1 as was feared to control timber reserve ls lion areas, and went on to say il 11 u *- local body was not satisfied with wlta had been suggested as a tentative pay '• ment to local bodies ol timber royal lies (namely 20 per cent net revenue what amount would satisly the loca i' body. 1 promised that I would plae 1 the query before the Council lor it « reply. ’s In considering a possible answer it i >- as well to remember that under the la\ of the land hitherto existing by whiol hi tin* Council received half of the royal n- tics in quarterly payments, the Court to , d had what was generally considered ; permanent asset of great value as future revenue producer. Westlam m possesses a great stretch of forest coun r- try. This is best realised by looking it t- tiie map which the Forestry Depart g ment has prepared o| Westland show ing the expanse ot provisional lores m reserves. Upwards of two million acre c- are so reserved, and it tollows tint such ti vast reservation will have a ri d stricted effect on industry and settle it ment for a long time lo come. W est >r land has (men most unfortunate in th n past hv these restrictive actions block icing progress in W est land. I or year ), settlement was held up by the Midlain Railway reservations —no settlemen country could he selected by an indi n vidua I till the Midland Railway Con pany had made its choice, and the tiff triel was held hack for two decades a least in consequence of that embargo j Then how patiently we have had t I wait for the Otira Tunnel. Anotlie decade will have gone by before tlii overdue work will be finished. r lhen aie thirty years out of a span ol a littL more than half a century in which tin ' progress of the district Ims been sprag j* god by powers that lie beyond the read of tiie struggling people, who all throng] ( l the lean years have held on with 1 a ill [. that Westland would yet come into it ( own, and one of the factors to give I permanent industry and return lioardei up wealth lor the development ol bad parts of the country, was the yield Iron I its vast timber forests stretching inti , millions of acres. d .... ! We are told that nearly two millioi , v acres in Westland are State Forest re r serves--provisional at present —hit none the less locking the territory uj and preventing settlement. "Less that a million acres in Westland are ire >1 from the operations of the Eorestr; vl Department, so that more tmin two if thirds of our territory are now agaii h locked up, and this locking up uius if perforce retard the settlement, is In considering what is a lair paymen II to make, some account should he take! C of the injury done by retarding settle )- ment, and preventing the lands no i- only producing revenue by way o d royalties, but also annual income ii rates. Further, we must take into ac i- count that Westland is going to if specially penalised for the benefit ol th e Dominion in that here we have tin greatest forest wealth of timber, am. it is lo become a great national park o store house for "the rest of the Do >■ minion. Other parts of New Zealam 0 up to the present did what they likei with the forests in their territory They burned them off as circumstance.' 11 warranted, ur they destroyed them at will, without thought of the morrow. When it came to time for thinking, they t-hought and the Forestry Depart- , ment thinks, that Westland is to he the r store house for the rest of the Doi minion in the main in regard to timber I supplies for an indefinite number of , years. This embargo oil our territory l j means stifling natural progress which > I otherwise would flow r this way with the

facilities for ready export which the p Otira Tunnel will provide. These are some of the factors, we as representatives of t-he people ol Westland have to take into account tit this stage, and if a bargain is possible with I the Forestry Department, the price hcl should include a quid pro quo for the o ] penalty put upon Westland by the em- (v< bargo'on Westland land by the reside- Iff live action in reserving for the whole ot J. Now- Zealand so much of the small poi- I). lion we have in our own County dis- wi iriet. In Canterbury province the local kc people enjoy the fruits of production from their own territory—as they have w< a right to do. In West-land we may not ,| 0 To. The theorist tells us the timber I belongs to the people as a whole, and at once proceeds to confiscate our mi- p: I rural wealth. Yet the goldminer in the () | North Island wins his gold and pays his t< gold duty, and the amount passes to e , ike local body in which the gold is won. \Ye niav not thrive on the bounties of nature within our County—the country j, as a whole wishes to appropriate 80 per f rent of the value for its own purpose — f . the people of Westland, l repeat,, are to he specially penalised for all time so , that the rest of New Zealand may have 1 .hoard whence to draw timber supplies. , [ submit it is unfair, and the district | if we have in the end to submit to the , powers that be, should be recompensed ' liberally, so that the people of to-day . and those who come alter will not he ( 1 victimised for all time. ; For the past 15 years timber royalties have yielded to the Council a little over L 23.000 or an average of a little over L 1,500 per annum. We maintain 1 that this amount does not represent the c ‘ - U n sum we should have received, and 1 we have been pleading for fully ten 1 years now for justice. Me asked then that the revenue withheld should he l ” paid over to the Council. The Fores- ° try Department indicates that, their management will result in liighci ic- ' turns from the forests. The local bod\ ‘ should he entitled to its share of what 0 i s taken out of its natural asset. To si im the position up, 1. do not think i Hat the Council would he right in rc--1 treating from its legal position in the ;l matter—for lam satisfied that the I Council has legal rights with regard to timber royalties at present but tainth ' s uiderstooil by the authorities, and !l which can he lost by the local bodies II only by actual confiscatory legislation . , n the part of the Govern men l—unless , upon payment ot a substantial sum. j s That amount 1 leave the Council to j suggest, Imt it should he fixed at Jin j fl amount per annum, bo payable " quarterly. The question 1 of whether (l there should lie the right to levy a rate ’• i vor State Forestry reservations is, 10 mother point- for consideration seeing p that so much land is to he locked up lS fur an indefinite period. These points | submit to you, and ask your full and earnest consideration lor action in due it course. '• M| Jeffries congratulated the Chairman on Ins able report, which lull,' set out the position. From wlmt he had been able to learn the Council's funds h have, been filched of thousands of I 1 pounds in the past. He again exptess--10 I ed his approval and congratulated the Chairman on his report. V ‘ Mr M'ard said he endorsed the report which outlined the justice ol the ( oun"'i oil's position, and that was all they a were seeking for. The Government " e were trampling on the rights of the lS small men and we in M'estland were the . small men of New Zealand. He said IS they must stand up for their rights and it was their duty to "put in their full 1 claim for the whole of their rights at the full figure. That was Ilnur duty to "* the ratepayers. !l The Chairman said there wcor lour points that they should urge. 1(1 l. Past dues, to be settled by an independent tribunal. ‘G 0. Tu get the royalties and rents on L ‘ granted rights and reservations. An annual sum on forest areas st taken from us by the reservations. os 4.—That forest reservations be made :lt subject to the Railway Act. After discussion the report was une ‘ auimoiisly adopted and Mr Jellrics was * appointed to represent the ( ouiieiL ie ORDER PAPER. k' The Chairman moved:—"That rs the accounts for' the month of FcbritR 1 ur, 1921, as revised and recommended |U to,- payment by the Finance Committee, *'■ .-mounting to £1242 15s 3d. be passed for payment-.”—Seconded by Mr Duff s ' and carried. II The Chairman moved: “That Overseer Milliter compile a list of lo works required in the Northern, Com ‘‘ r frill and Southern Ridings for applica's lion for Government grants, lor the re year 1921-2, and such list he suhtnii--I*’ od for the consideration of the Council 10 at next meeting.- Seconded by Mr Dull and carried. The Chairman moved: “That , the annual statement he prepared byj the Treasurer as early as possible in respect to the apportionment of the 11 gross estimated income for the finan->-ial year commenciitg on the Ist prox, and that the proposed allocation of 1,1 surplus revenue over the several rid--1(1 ittgs, as requir-ed by section 131 of the Counties Act, 1920, he submitted to the 111 Council for adioption. o —Seconded by Mr Duff and carried, d Mr Jeffries; moved:— “That 'P plication be made to the Public Works 111 Department for a substantial grant of - e (say) LI ,000 for t.he purpose of enab-r-v ling the Council to carry out the widening of Waitaha settlement road.” 1,1 - Seconded by Mr Chinn and carried. s *- The Chairman moved: “That llic town members of the Council he a special committee to deal with tenders ' !1 for works in the County, closing on the 15t.h. insl.—Seconded by Mr Morel and carried. G The Council rose ill 5.20 p.m.