FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1921, Page 1

FINANCIAL DEBATE.

SPEECH 'BY AIR SEDDON SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, Nov 17. Speaking in tile Financial Debate, Mr Seddon (Westland) asked why the policy of Government had not been disclosed. if not in the Budget then at least hy some one on the Government honchos. If the Alinistor for Agriculture wished to do something now, ho should have an experiment performed with a view to bringing into use the waste lands on the West Const.

[Th reference to the transfer of the Consumption Sanatorium from the Defence to the Public Health Department, the Alemher quoted the statement! of a T.B. soldier that he did not mind civil patients coming in with the soldiers so long as the soldiers were kept to themselves and were given the same treatment as before, and were not permitted to bo troubled, for instance. I,y the society of former conscientious objector*.

Air Seddon regretted that the Government should be developing such a comparatively small, and at the same ■time expensive hydro-electric system as that "I .Malignin', while neglecting th*' ?ippnrlunity for developing a great scheme and comparatively cheap one iu Westland.

Wlint "as to lie done with defence depended largely on tbo result of tbe I>i -ririatneut Conference. Tbe aviation urn: ol tile defon. - forces should, howover hr encouraged ill every possible way. l.'p to the present only £12,700 hail been spent upon it. Would thv vermuent announce its intentions in regard to this matter. The Hide Clubs ml' th,, country had, in the past, been so useful that he Imped they would receive everv encouragement. There was a revival in mining in the 'Bollth Island and on the West Coast particularly and though recent figures had shown a decline in the value of minerals won from the earth, a little ein oiirageioeiit from the Stale would, he was convinced bring about a, decided increase next year. Prosper! ing parties should lie encouraged. A difficulty had' now arisen from the fact that the Alining Companies eonld not longer cut. timber which formerly tlmy had been permit ted to cut. At pii' i iit t.ln’re "i rc reserved for lorestty purposes ."*, ] lU. 7.11 .'PTrs "1 land 'b(MK).Odd acres of which "ere situated in Wetland. This meant that a great deal cf l.md whirl* might have been available for settlement, bad been lo died no. He recognised the necessity for a policy of conservation. but tbe rights of tlie* people on tin* AYest Coast and ike rights of the profile in the timber iinln*try must !>,* safeguarded. \ si lio.-fl of forestry was to he established. and in view of the area reserved in llm respective islands it was clear that the site of 111 " school should lie in tlm Sniilli Island. The Gum i nmciit, it was i" 'lm feared, would do only vital was politically expedient in dei Min .' wlmre the sclmn] should go. The local bodies of AYestlamf bad not been fairly treated on the question of timber royalties. The Commissioner of State Forests had said that he thought the matter would lie adjusted, lint so fur there was no sign of any legislation .all the subject. He urged the Government to keep its p: utilise that so me I It in g would lie done. In the new lari If no elteratinn was made in the taxation on timber coming into the country. There was no proleet ioti against dumping from Cnited States and Canada. This dumping would throw many New Zealanders out of employment. It was made possible hy the employment of cheap Asiatic lalumr. Tie reqnested tin* Aliuister to consider an increase.] duty on importei] timber. This revenue might he earmarked to help along the new Forestry Department.