The Hokitika Guardian SATURADY, JUNE 10th, 1922. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURADY, JUNE 10th, 1922. THE WEEK.

While the late delegation to Oiristehiirch to meet tlio Prime Minister met with a good deal of success generally, there was 0110 very important matter on which Mr Massey was vague in his promise of redress. We refer to the timber royalties question, which is of vital importance to the local bodies. Tt is not clear that oither the members of the bodies or the ratepayers realise what the loss of revenue means to them under the domination of the Forestry Department. It means as a matter of fact thousands of pounds of income spread over an indefinite period of years. As ft matter of fact there is not at the moment a more vital subject affecting local body interests, and yet we do not know that the seriousness of the situation is fully realised by the public at large all of whom are directly concerned in the matter, through loss of legitimate revenue, which otherwise will have to he made up by extra rating. This of Qourso is not a new statement of the position. It has boon eferred to over and over again, yet despite the warnings there is a sonuw'ence which will be fatal if the matter is not actively contested on behalf of the people at every stage. It is all very well for Mr Massey to say that promises mode will be kept, but when we recall that these promises have been current since 1913. nearly nine years

ago. it is high time tl'°y ' ve, '° being honored, or at least local hody finance in regard to royalties put on a definite footing. Certainly there was legislation on the subject last session, but even in respect to that Mr Massey hinted he was not prepared to act just now. The local bodies certainly have a grievance but they should do more tli n nurse it—they should set out to have ii, remedied in a definite way.

Mb Massey was at least frank with the deputation when he spoke of the cost of the Forestry Department, and seemed to indicate that hy hook or by crook the money had to he found to keep the expensive Department going. That apparently is the solo excuse for “collaring” the local body rovenuo! But as we have been at some to tell, even that is only one aspect of tho question—for in other directions the Forestry Department is putting on restrictions and increasing royalties which can have hut one result, a doarer commodity for the purchaser. At the moment, however, that Is another Btory. As to the question of the high cost of the Forestry Department, it will bo a surprise to many to find that For 1920-21 Parliament voted £290,144 for tho Service. The Budget plated that the net expenditure for the year of tho service was £79,551 and the revenue of the Department £19,097. This Service has borrowing powers under tho Finance Acts of half-a-million. Two hundred thousand pounds of this have been spent already, and the unexpended balance was in March last 6300,000. Tlie Budget said at the present rate of expenditure tho sum just named will be sufficient for three years —without allowing for the purchase of timber-bearing lands. To allow the plans for systematic forest management over a number of years “it is advisable,” said the Budget, "that suitable financial provision should he made”. “Over a number of years”—sounds ominous to the long-suffering taxpayer—it is an indeterminate sentence of extra taxtion. The State Forest Service is going to l>e an expensive Department—and it is being built up at a time when other very important Departments are bring curtailed.

The Prime ’ Minister stated there are about one hundred officers in this coetly Department. The salaries voted this year were £33,787, with £22,210 for general development and £56,370 for general afforestation. Other items of expenditure brought total vote of Parliament to £131,247. If the district staffs are compared in number with those of the cl 1 regime, they will find the man power multiplied manifold. | Apart from the fact that the country cannot afford an expensive luxury of the nature at this juncture, there ; s the aspect that the cost is unduly high for the benefits leceived. The mon y could be used to better advantage hi other directions, without robbing t::c local bodies, increasing the cost of timber, and by restrictive regulations hampering the industry at a time when employment is required, and when men. ey needs to tie brought into the country and not he barred out. The forestry policy of this Dominion is responsible for the catalogue of effects just enumerated so that the matter is a national one and not ptirely ft provinci.J one. In Westland there is a crop of timber ready for milling, ready to be turned into cash, and under the law of the land upon which most of the millers entered upon their large enterprises, they expected a fair field and no favor to dovelope a greater industry. But the Forests laws came down like a thunderbolt, and the millers no less than the local bodies are hard hit by the great change which as been In ought to pass. Just as it is a set ions matter for the local bodies from a revenue point of view, so this now and costly forestry policy is a serious matter industrially for Westland. The people are slow to get the situation into a right perspective—but a grave danger is there and local bodies finance and the expansion of the industry.- are menaced already.

The request made to Mr Massey at. Christchurch this week, was to put see. tion 40 of tlie Finance Act of last session in force by appointing the Commission authorised thereunder. The section in question provides that the Commission is to inquire and report upon •the extent to which local authorities may incur loss of revenue from royalties consequent upon the passing of the Forests Act. and upon tl;p provision which should consequently he made from the revenues of the State Forest service or otherwise. In passing such a provision Parliament very properly recognised the equities of the case so far as the local bodies are concerned, and it is now for the Government to honor the compact. Mr Massey is reported to have said if lie knew in advance what the Commission would report, he would he’ able to say wliat he would do, but it is hardly fair to unduly delay so important a matter on such a pretext. If the local bodies have rights in the matter it is the duty of the Government to recognise the rights. It is plain the Government has filched revenue from the local bodies, and Parliament has authorised a means whereby a measure of justioe should make good wliat lias been taken. There is certainly a grievance to be righted, apart from other considerations affecting the position, nib] the fjoyerr|in?T)t

should do the right thing at the right time, which i s now, for the Government 1 i s receiving money which in all equity does not belong to it—the money should go to the districts whence the funds are being depleted. The actual position should be stressed fully in Parlia--1 meat, if necessary) so as to ensure the i local bodies receiving a square deal in i a matter of such vital importance to ; local Government

Tke proposal to hold a largo exhibition here in 1924, to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Westland appears likely to tnke definite shape. It would be n very fitting way to celebrate so memorable an occasion, and as the time will synchronise with the period when the Midland iniiway will be in complete running older, matters should he wed organised for such an event. No town on the Coast is better able to do justice to such an occasion. There lire facilities hero for shell an Crept to ho conducted oil lines equal to A metropolitan function. There is the room and tlie space for quite an extended exi hibilion in the heart of the town with j elect lie light, and such an event last- ' ing over eight or ten weeks would be able to scenic good patronage right through thO season. The proposal calls fur a good deal of practical enterprise on the part of tho citizens. The old saying that bricks cannot he maue without stinw, may be translated to ' the effect that an < xhibit on cannot be organised without funds. A goodly guarantee fund will be icquired, .but tlio prospects of success ai'e such us to engender confidence, and the assurance tlint included in the uniform success which is possible, the financial results [ will he satisfactory. U has been mentioned that a capable director can bo sot-mod from Canterbury. This Certainly sunups the project with the hallmark of socrcss. in advance and seems to make the assurance mentioned, as doubly sin i'. The town will require to wake up betimes and set its house in order for so great an historical event in our record. Much will require to he done individually and collectively ill advance for the big function, and it might well be prepared for in advance by those who realise the great possibilities of the occasion, not alone to the towii, but also the district. The exhibition would give tin- occasion of the jubilee a distinctive form of celebration which would make the jubilee known widespread in the Dominion on,] even overseas.

To-iuv is a memorable anniversary fo ■ Westland which is not likely to pass ort of recall. It is the sixteenth anniversaiy of the death of Richard John Soddon, who died at sea when returning to New Zealand from an Australian tour The late Mr Seddon was at the time Premier of New Zealand and also member for Westland. He had occupied the latter position front 1879. since when up to the time of his death he had been continuously in partiuinent. Mr Soddon was a virile member who rose by sheer hard work and his personal worth, to the highest place of office in the land. Westland shared in the reflected glory from their notable member whose work and worth were known abroad. The late Mr Seddon was a great democrat. His parliamentary record was built up on what was termed humanitarian legislation. He legislated for the masses. In doing so h<, naturally turned to some of the classes whose lot was not all that he wished it to he. lint whose lot he made the brighter, and happier by the trend of the domestic legislation he gathered. He was an Imperialist, too. Mr Seddon was a Joy. alist not only in word but in deed. He had a great affection for the Homeland and what it stood for to the Umpire at large. His loyalty wa s a great national ideal. And he loved New Zealand. The measure of his love was the sacrifice of his life in the service of his country. He died in harness when returning to “Hod’s own Country” as he endearingly styled it. New Zealand an ( ] the world at large paid him a great tribute. Xo man. l>oforo or since, had so captured the hearts of the people, and the great concourse of people who galiered from all parts at the time of his obsequies was one of those rare manifestations of public appreciation and sympathy in the passing of a great man whose memory will live for ever in the hearts and minds of the nation as a whole.