TIMBER ROYALTIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1922, Page 2

TIMBER ROYALTIES.

GOVERNMENT’S PROMISE. NOT BEING KEPT. ! (Grey Argus). Speaking at tho Labour demonstration held at Kumara last night to celebrate Mr Jas O’Brien’s Westland victory, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., said he was greatly surprised to read Sir William Fiaser’s letter to the Vestland County Council, which contained the announcement that the Government did not intend to. honor the promise made by Sir Fracis Bel in con nection with the timber royalties due to tbe local bodies. Sir 1* rancis hell had definitely promised Unit t lie amounts lost to the Counties under the Forests Act 1921-22 would lie made, good and the Act itself provided tm the appointment of a commission m connection with the royalties claimed bv the local bodies. It the Goveinment’s promsie had not been made, and if there had been no provision toi n commission to determine the claims. he doubted very much whether Government would have got its Bill through. If the Government’s attitude as expressed in Sir William Fraser s lett« meant anything at all it meant thrit the Government was now saying JO Hell with agreements.” bir i rancis Bell’s promise was to be dishonoured, notwithstanding that Mr Massev had stated in the House that it would be honoured, and the Act-m the matter of a commission— was to be treated as so much waste paper. It would be very (interesting to see how Government members representing timber distiicts would shape when the matter was raised in the House—as-it would be by Mr O’Brien and himself, if by no one else.