LOCAL BODIES’ CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1923, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES’ CONFERENCE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30tli. .MEETING AT TOWN UADI/. The quarterly Local Bodies Confer- • iiee was licld in the Town Hall at Mo o’clock, there being only a small ittendance present. -Mr T. W. Dull County Chairman) was voted to the •hair. An apology was made for Hon. J. Iriinmond and Mr •). O'Brien Member lor Westland. The Chairman said the meeting was railed to deal with various matters of importance to the community. He regretted the attendance was not as large as it might have been. They would take the first motion on the order paler. Mr I). .1. Evans moved: -- Thai in view of the tardiness marking the completion of the Arthur s i ass Tunnel works and- the irequent post poiicincnt of the opening date indicated by official authority, together with the reported lack of co-operation between the two Government Departments concerned in the finishing-up work and the opening of tlio lino lor through traffic, the Conference ask* the Canterbury Progress League to take up the question of urging closer co-ordin-ation between the Departments eoncorned, with ,a view to the opening of the line being expedited instead of being retarded in the present indefinite manner. Air Evans said the subject was an important one to the district. There was apparently going to lie a lurthei delay in the opening. As n matter of lact, he understood that Mr Evan parry who came out from England, to !»t* present at the opening, is shortly returning homo again as he was mmole to await the formal opening. There was a prospect apparently that the line would not ho < pelt lor passenger traffic niticlt before November next. There were ninnv rumours of the incompleteness of the various works at the tunnel, and it behoved them to agitate. or otherwise they would not know when the tunnel would be utilised .

.Mr Wm. Wilson seconded the motion Judging bv .Mr ( limic’s report of the work there was something radically wrong, with the carrying out of the operations and there promised t:> he stm I'm tlier delays. Mr W. J. Butler suggested that what was required was that they should leeommeud that in the future the Bailway Department .should carry ouL the woik of making new railways instead of their being in the hands oi tire Public Works Department. Ibis would do away with the friction between the two Departments. Idle motion was agreed to . Mr VC. Butler moved:--That following the representatinns now being made hy the Canterbury Chamber ol Commerce, tins Conference approves ami supports the action of endeavouring to secure s> through freight rale for goods traffic east and west, in c-onnoclion with the Midland railway transport. Mr Butler said the matter was of very great importance to tho-e Using C’e tunnel. There was no reason for i Itree sectional rates, even it there were sectional rates. \ strong endeavour .should be made to urge the Bailway Department to make only one iate fin the. whole of the line in their hands. .If this were not done it would militate against the u-e of the line a heti it was opened for traffic. II o. If, I, Michel seconded the motion. !'.• thought it was vert absurd to h.aiv these different fid charge., «>; etriing. There was no absolute reason v, by the Kaiiway Department and Public Works sboiil.il not amalgamate i hoir charges and make one charge only for the carriage of goods. It was tin insult, to man's understanding to s ; ( v t'mi i| v.as ijiTissny to have three charges on one line ol railway simply b.cau-e two Government departments were not operating together. The motion was agreed to. Mr !>. •). Evans moved: - - That the time is at hand for quickening action in regard to the, introduction of electric power for industrial and other purposes in the district anil to ensure a basis for calculating the requirements of the district end obtaining generally direct information on the subject, a conference ol .farmers, sawmillers and other industrialists in northern Westland ft!.at is embracing the northern and central Hidings of Lise County of Westland and the Boroughs of Ktunaia, Hokitika and Boss) be held at Hokitika on the 22iut .June to consider the question and afford all information, and that the members of the Westland Power Board be invited to attend the suggested Conference and discuss the position will’ the settlers, millers and the public.

i .Mr Kvaus said in conversation with Mr Langford he understood that there ws a prospect of a considerable rodueiiim in the capita] cost. Very interesting information could he supplied as tc the cost of power to Canterbury farmers. The matter could he placed before a meeting of sawmdiers, farmers and others interested in the use of electric power. An important meeting was shortly to be held in New York which would decide the further operations of tl’«e Knniori Kleetrie Ltd., and the information suggested in the motion, if available, would be- of advantage when the question eatue up for decision bv the Power Board. Mr W. J. Butler said as Chairman of the Power Beard he would second Lite motion. The Power Board had been wisely marking time, and he thought their action was a wise one. ft would he well to have the information available when required. I The motion was carried. Mr T. W. Duff moved: That a sub-committee consisting „f the Mayor, County Chairman. Messrs Butler, Jeffries, Mclntosh and Perham wait oil the Hokitika Harbour Board with a view to discussing possibilities for restoring the shipping trade to the port, and also consider matters affectin** harbour or river improvements, whereby the berthage at the wharf and in the estuary can be improved. Mr Duff said they all knew the advantage that shipping would he to the district. If the present conditions could he altered and shipping was secured for the port it would be of general advantage. Mr It. F. Pern am seconded the motion. He was strongly of opinion that it would lie of decided advantage if something were done on the lines advocated . The motion was carried. T)r. K. Teichelmann moved: That with the opening of the East and West Coast- railway, the portion of Westland now within the Grey Harbour district will be more efficiently served by the railway connection with the east coast, and that steps he taken by petition to Parliament to have the Westland area eliminated from the Grevmouth harbour district.

Tlie mover said they were all a creed on the proposal. Seconded hy Mr Win. Wilson and carried. Mr W. Butler moved: That the Conference approves cf steps hein.se taken to increase the hostel accommodation of the town and district, believing same to be an essential requirement for the immediate and future expansion of the district, resultant from the wider facilities for traffic

which are now opening up to various parts of the Coast. The mover said that there was no doubt that we were very short of accommodation and were reputed very much more. It was important that the matter should be taken up energetically. There was a splendid opportunity at the present time. From a district point of view it was an urgent matter and commercially was a good undertaking. He urged the necessity of doing something in this matter. Dr. Toielieltnatm -seconded the motion endorsing the necessity of action so as to fill a great want which was having a serious eficct on the community. Mr Evans said that this was a matter that cropped up at every Exhibition Committee meeting. It was a matter for regret that the hotelkeepers did not rise to the occasion, and except for two or three proprietors, nothing was being done to increase the necessary accommodation. The people l ad given their mandate for a continuance of licenses and the licensees should recognise their liabilities. Outside of the Exhibition, the future was going to bring many more visitors to the town than in the past. The shoitnge of accommodation affects the whole district intimately, and it was a great pity that active measures to cope with flic shortage were not being taken. Mr F. Board said the shortage of accommodation was Dominion vide. He thought the hotelkeepers were standing in their own light, by in t taking active stops to repair the deficiency. It was not only on the West Coast, Hut. all over New Zealand that the shortage exists. Tie did not know jf the Brewery combine wouM improve matters by eliminating the tied houses but it was a recognised fact that in many parts of the Dominion there was not that active co-operation to provide* for tlio wants of the tisivo!ling public that was required and the law should enforce.

The motion was agreed to. Mr T. W. Duff moved: That in view of the great importance to tlio future of the Sawmilling industry, the Conference lake into consideration the Government policy with respect to the limited export: of sawn rim it overseas, and the oflect ol suen restriction industrially and generally, and such suggestions ho put Jorward as mav seem necessary to avoid the great curtailment in the marketing of the product which will result inevitably under the present regulations m lorco, and to this end the matter be reviewed by the Government. Mr Duff said it. would have a very bad effect if iestrietions aero increased on the expert ot red pine. It was a matter of great importance to the district as it would amongst ether viewpoints, cause the unemployment of tlie men working in the industry. It was a matter of great importance to the whole Coast and should be stionglv urged upon the Government. Seconded by Air Evans. It wrs a matter of set ions import to tlie uistriet. according to the regulations gazetted, which only carried on for a period of five or six years, when the export was to cease. r l he stoppage of export would have a very serious result in this district, whole there was so much timber at cm- vcy doors. It was time in tlio interests of the distiiet and industry to turn the muni of the Government on the effect id the regulations. '! lie oversea trade provided an outlet for numb timber that, was not saleable in the Dominion. There v.as a prospect of tlio Secretary of Commerce and Industries being here iluring the next month, and il was a matter that could well be liioiiglil . p.. via I!v under his noti-e. He thought

;> mi!: i nmmitte-' should l.e appointed !-- go fully into the question, which was of such vital importance to the whole district. .Mr Butler said there were many 1-u grades of timber exnurte:! that were nut usable in the Dominion. When they were exporting tins timber there was I'tillv til 1 per u.-nt. more ol the timber ui ill- -I th.in was at ill" pro nt. time. At iTi-ci'i very little low .'.trr.de timber i • being i xport-d. 'I his was no doubt due to importer.-, in Australia being forced to look elsewhere for limit' snpplir- in view of the rest fictions in New Zealand. When there was a great demand for timber in Xew Zealand a vent or two ago the export permits were not fully utilised. Imi he thought they should not lie penalised on that aci-onm, and the balances ol the permits se-edd be carried forward, if the restrictions were not done away with. The export of kauri had been considerably cut down, and also of rimti, tlm permits on !y allowing export till the end of HE!*, iln fsawniillers’ Association had made re pro - .‘lit a Lions to the Government <Ol the matter, but the latter bad notified that they intended that the regulations as they stood should he carried :nto elfcet. Hon If. L. Michel agreed that any i iU’Lailment- of the export ol timber would have a very serious olivet on the district, hue he was lint so sure that the danger was as great as some of the speakers bad made out. He understood that there had liven no curtailment "f exports of timber from the West Coast.. ft seemed a pity that they should put up a- bogey and start to maintain it. f j he exports iron: Gtvyr,ninth showed no curtailment hi the export of timber, and therefore he felt that they should recognise their responsibility. ‘ He asked if the Forestry Department w as getting a fair deal in this district. As far ns the timber industry was concerned they should realise their full responsibility. The Forestry Department proposed to plant millions ol trees lie re and it would be a goad tiling for the district.. They should see that they do not harrnss the Government or the Forestry Department. So far he

did pot think the Government had curtailed to any extent, the export of rod piuj for the West Coast. He felt the whole interest of the district wax-bound up in the timber industry. This was the only district in New Zealand in which there was any agitation against the Forestry 'Department, lint he recognised that this district was more interested in the timber industry than any other part of tlie Dominion. Air Michel referred also to two instances in which lie claimed the Government were in the right as against the persons affected.

AH Butler said Ah' Afiehel had stated he was open for correction and he (Air Butler) also wished to state that he had no knowledge of the motion coming forward and had no hand in drawing it tip. There was nothing in this resolution that dealt with the Forestry Depnrnient. The Forestry Department did not control the export of timber. They had nothing to do with the export of timber. That lay with the Board of Trade. He pointed out that Atr .Michel had instanced the fact- that there had been a great export of timber from Grcvinouth last year. But that did not alter the fact that-each year there was In be a reduction in the quota of export. It was with a view to having the present quantity allowed for export continued that the motion was framed. He agreed that the permits have not been "taken full advantage of, but pointed out that, in 1019 there were 30

million allowed fo ho exported, this year there were only 18 million, and in five years there will lie only three millions. Tlio Board of Trade has invariably issued permits for export of white pine. In his own firm’s ease they had not utilised their permits to the fullest extent, because in 1919 anil 1920 when New Zealand was short of timber they has sent most of tlieir output to the New Zealand markets. The reason why they had not used the whole of their permits was as stated and that was why lie claimed that the unused permits should he carried forward to later years.

Air Evans said the motion had not been instigated by any sawmiller. They all knew of tlio restrictions, and the time was coming very near when no more permits would be issued to allow of the export of red pine. Wlmt was going to be the effect of the stoppage of the export. They all knew how serious it would he for the district. Air .Michel had asked for particulars ol a restriction of output and next morning he would try and supply the facts in black and white. There were two sides to the. two matters brought forward hy Air A 1 ichol. He was fully acquainted with the position especially from the soldiers’ viewpoint. These matters would shortly he brought forward in Parliament and he was satisfied that >thc men were in the right, both morally and in equity. Air It. F. I’erham said where it was shown that the timber sent away did not. amount to Elio quantity actually allowed, it showed that there was no necessity for the export restrictions. K tlmy had to restrict to New Zealand trade alone fully flfl per cent:, of the tree would go lip in smoke. 'Personally he had had no serious bother with the Department, hut lie felt that they were at his front door and that it. would not he long before lie would know it. Tlie Chairman stated that the most serioits point, was that Mr Butler bed slated the Cabinet intended to carry out thi» restrictions and that meant a eery serious blow to the industry. The motion was agreed to.

lion It. Michel referred to the telephone service and suit! it seemed to hint the present telephone- service was very unsatisfactory, in that il should ho a more continuous il not a completely continuous service, lie also referred to the high oharge of 9d lor connection with Greyniouth, 2-1 miles away. He moved that application he made to the Department for improvements to the present service. Air Evans said the Chamber ol Commerce had moved in the matter when the Government had announced the intention of increasing the charges, so that meantime the Chamber hail marked time till the intentions of the Government were definitely announced. At present the Department were shortening the line to Greyniouth h.v cutting ■ nit the line through Marsden, and when this.-was completed, as should shortly he the ease, there should he some reduction in the charge. Wm Win. Wilson thought that as they generally went to bod about 11 p.m. dial hour v, p as quite late enough to keep the telephone open. I’.r Toich"!iii"iin said it would lie ol advantage if the telephone ulliee were l ent <p: a all day on Sundays.

Air i'erham said when the Christchurch telephone < "iinocl.uni was available it would he an advantage ii the telephone was open later to enable advantage to he taken of the reduced night rates. Mr Evans slated that lie understood l|-. ; , fee for lute eiuiiiedion h'Twcci! Chn-tchurcb and the ( i :sl would b ’ eh, lid for six minutes. When lie ui.uiu'l was c.n.ui this would he of ale ! value. The sullied then dropped. In view- ol the small attendance the qi'c-'tion ni a continuance of the Conlev r."i was ineiHUUH'il. hut it was decided to continue, Mr 11 ci nr, statue.' fie thought that 'the general public did not know that they were able to attend tlk meetings. ’The meeting ecu: lulled at tt’-’O p.m. v, iih a into of thanks to the Chairman for presiding.