A Royalties Problem

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1921, Page 1

A Royalties Problem

COUNTY COUNCIL’S REQUEST TO I’AIU-l A.M ENT. Mr H. Poland presfUiK'd to Parliament last Meek a petition from the : tliinemiiri County Uoiincil asking D r an iIII)IIiry into tile position of lisa! bodies respecting timber and Has colling royalties, with a view to giving .111,,.I ate relief to the petitioners and lull effect to the intention of I’.irlinineiit when the l imber and Flax Royalties Act "as pissed. The petition said that under the I!M’5 Set half the royalty let any lieein-e for culling limber or llax was pa.\ible to the lnenl authority. For a number ~| vear- this received. Winn the statutes were consolidated in 1998 n alteration ill I li" iutei i lie legishit ui'e was made possible. Du-

ring 1913 mid later the Crown Lands Department, apparently becoming alive io llie advantage to be gained by the method of disposing of the Limber on Clown lands by public auction lor liiiiij? sum instead ot by royalty, coopted tluit met hod and decided that local bodies could not receive any portion of the proceeds of the sale, outwit h-holding that the upset price to lie paid for such timber was fixed on the basis of royalty as previously provided to ho paid and that the buyer was required to obtain a cutting Keen • as in tlie ease of u purchase on royalty. In the period 1913 to 192! Lho amount antoi.nt recoivo,! was aLnut tILLOC' from the sale of timber by auction in the Ohincinuri County. The transport of timber and flax damaged the road and the oust should lie a charge on the proceeds of the sale of the commodities.