Parliamentary Supply Discussed.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1922, Page 1

Parliamentary Supply Discussed.

(Hansard Report.) In connection with the Mines vote Air Seddon called attention to the item, “Kumarn-Knpitea Road: Payment of compensation and erection of fencing, £221, and asked why this compensation had been paid, because there was a misunderstanding about the matter, the idea prevailing in the district being that the Lands Department had resumed certain land alongside the railway, on which was to la constructed the main road from Kumars to Hokitika. It was suggested that compensation would have to he paid to certain landowners in that locality. He asked if the sum of £221 would cover the total amount required by way of compensation. He took the item to he an earnest of live intention of the Government to construct the roiul, and hoped he was not wrong. He wished to mention also another item—“ Midland Railway reserves: Re fund of timber royalties to local authorities, £5,830.” When the Forestry Bill was before the House it was represented to the Minister in charge that the amount of the rents and royalties in question should he stated in the Bill, hut that gentleman said the question would have to he dealt with in a siqlarate Bill—a Finance Bills Would the -Minister say whether the rents and royalties now under the control of the Forestry Department would lie dealt with on a proper and satisfactory hsnis as far as the local bodies were concerned! 1 He had raised the question before, hut had not received a definite answer. There was a vote of £250 fur the drainage of La Fontaine •Creek in South Westland. If the Government were going to undertake a comprehensive scheme of drainage of the valley more than £250 would he required. A small sum for the Rimu Domain had been voted in the previous year hilt had not been spent. There was not much recreation room in the township, and tlie expenditure of the vote would mean a good deal to the people tiiere. He hoped the Minister would he able to see his way to restore the vote. On the Tourist vote Mr Seddon referred to the item, “Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers: Tracks and huts, £so* and said lie wished to know whether this had reference to the tracks on the north side of the franz Josef Glacier, which were somewhat out of repair, and the tracks down tlie Callery Gorge, which were in a similar condition. He wished to know whether the Minister proposed lo repair these tracks. Many visitors were expected in that district during tlie coining tourist season. T[o also wished to know upon what terms the Mount Cook Hermitage was being leased, and for what period. He asked this question because the tourist resorts in Westland were in competition with the Mount Cook Hermitage. The estimates also provided for a payment of COfi to a consulting balneologist in England. He (Mr Seddon) thought the Dominion had its own balneologist ami tie would like to know why the services of a lalncologist in England had been requisitioned.

Dealing with the vote for Agriculture Ah- Seddon referred to the item of £7OO for “Wages and other expenses of tlie AVaimaunga (west coast, South Island) Experimental and Instructional Farm.” He thought that the Alinister should take an early opportunity of visiting this farm and noting what was being done there. The previous vote had been spent on putting the fa nil in order, hut he understood that no actual operations had been started since the place was bought. A personal visit from the Alinister would bo productive of good to tlie local farmtrrn and the Department generally. He suggested the establishment of further experimental areas on the AA'est Coast. There was was one at Rotomami, where useful experiments had been carried out, and another ono was asked for near Kumara Junction, which adjoined valuable areas of land highly suitable for the purpose of experiments. He liopcd the Alinister would visit that district and tlie ureas suggested. He also asked what breed of cattle it was intended to place on tin* farm at AVainintingn—Friesians, Bed Polls, or Jerseys. If that point could he decided it would help tlie local farmers, who were wondering wliat breed would lie the best cattle for such a district as AA’aininimga. lie called attention to the necessity of fostering tlie apiary industry. The assistance usually granted was apparently to lie dropped this year, lie had already made representations to tlm Minister, on behalf of the farmers who desired to produce honey, that an additional instructor or two should he sent to the West Coast. There wiis only one instructor for’the great district extending from Marlborough to Buller and to Westland, llis lectures were always instructive and useful to the farmers, and the work could well ho extended. Even under the present difficulties tlie industry was growing. The 'district was most suitable for beekeeping, and with a little further help from the Government the industry would flourish considerably. In connection with the defence votes Air Seddon asked what the item of £03,000 for financial assistance to soldiers referred to? The Hon Air Guthrie (Minister in Charge of Repatriation Department) said it represented a credit from the AA’ar Expenses Account tor the carrying on of the repatriation work. Mr Seddon said there were two items on the estimates, one of £3,000 and one of £IO.OOO. connected with the difference in rates of pay of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and oi the Home rates. There wore cases of extreme hardship, of Now Zealanders who went away and joined tlie Impotial Forces, but were domiciled in New Zealand. He hopedA the Minister would give an assurance that those eases ,if they were at present burred, would ho met in the near future by the necessary sums being placed on the I estinuiites to meet tin-in. The Hon Sir R. H. Rhodes (Almwter 'of Defence) said the amounts ‘mentioned 'ropi'e'sehtod •’> K|ft ** tlu ' Zealand Government. I he men eou d riot claim the difference in the rate ol nuv as a right. , , Regarding the vote for Mental Hoepituls - Mr Seddon tv keel t ie Government wiiat improver onts had been

effected to the mental hospital at Hokitika, since the visit of the Minister. Last month a letter had appeared in the Hokitika Press from a visitor saying that the buildings were in a very insanitary condition and a. disgrace to the Departnicit. He (Mr Seddon) understood that after the visit of the Minister the work of repairing arid rebuilding would take place at once. He did not wish the Department to lose the services of such an efficient officer as the Medical Superintendent, hut for the Department to’ keep hint the improvements would have to he carried out.

The Minister .said in reply:—As for Hokitika, ho had in that case succeeded to an unenviable heritage. Til that the present mental hospital was the old gaol. Cabinet was now finding money for a new building, and a start had been mndci with it. Some of the older portions of the present building might he improved, no doubt, for the temporay accommodation of the patients, and that work, lie understood, was being carried out.

On the Forestry Estimates Air Sodden asked the Minister whether lie would make an announcement with regard to ' the proposed location of the school of forestry, for which there was a vote of £3,020 on the estimates, lie also asked if tlie amount to be devoted to the planting of exotic trees on 'the AVest Coast, or to a nursery in connection with that purpose, would come out of the vote for £2,000 for experimental forest planting. There was also an amount of £125 on the estimates for the purchase of a section in the Alnhinapua Survey District. Would that, amount coma out of the £2O:X) as well ?

The Alinister replied:—The item relating to the Afahiiiapun Survey District was to provide a small experimental station, and the amount would he sufficient. The vote of £2OOO was for the planting of exotic trees as all experiment, as it was desired to ascertain whether they would grow on the AVest Coast, where the climate was similar to that of the west coast of North Amercia, in the neighbourhood of I’uget Sound, where such timbers as the Oregon pine flourished. Air Seddon said that he did not wish to urge the Alinister to incur expenditure that could be avoided, hut lie thought that a. great many people won 1 he glad to know where the school of forestry, which lie understood the Government proposed to establish. would he located. The people of the AVest Coast would he glad to s c it established at Canterbury' College, in order that the students might bo able- to get their practical experience in the timber areas of the AVest Const, comparatively near at hand. He wished to say to the Alinister that lie was phased nith the reply of the honourable gentleman about tlie expenditure of the £2,1 XX) vote for a forestry experimental station on the AVest Coast. AA'lini the report came down last year lie had suggested that exotic trees should be planted throughout areas cut out by thc< sawmills, and apparently this was what was going to fie done. He hoped the Alinister would give some indication as to the intention of the Government with regard to the site for the school of forestry. The Ron R. 11. Rhodes replied that lie did not think any good would come from discussing the question us to wliaro the school of forestry would lie. This year the Government had had to economise, and no provision had been made for a school of forestry. No deeison had yet been arrived at as to where the site would be