TIMBER ROYALTIES QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1924, Page 4

TIMBER ROYALTIES QUESTION.

FAK.MEKS’ PROTEST. The fitt-epayers dire realising the effect on local body revenue arising from the loss of limber royalties. The Chairman of the Kokatahi Dairy .Factory Company has caused the following letter to bo sent to the Nt. 11011. the Prime .Minister and colleagues in respect to the subject, showing how the farmers will ho affected it the hiss of revenue is not made up to the local ho'flv:— Kokatahi Dairy Factory Coy. Ltd. Kokatahi, Aug. 23. ID’-L Bt. lion. Sir.—This Company has had tinder consider:!fain the late action of the Government (acting through the State Forest Service) appropriating important local hoil.V revenue in eonueetion with timber royalties. Hie shareholders of the t’mnpanv are a 1 rate-pavers rf the County ot Westland. the local body in charge of the district is going to be hit very -'vriousl.v |. v tiie loss of the timber revenue now and for all lime Statistics show; that Westland 1 folds the ra.®'rv» Sup|d\ of timber for the whole Dominion. Tlie royalty value of the standing timber estimated at present rates stands at about two millions and a quarter sterling. ball' of which on the legislation of ID'.’.') would helong to the Westland Conm*’ C**ttill’ll; There is tints a recurring loss ol several thetisnnds of pounds to the local ho ly. The farming community a''e the principal ratepayers, and tlie loss of the timber royalties will certainly disorganise-the local body liuam’o. Our representatives on the Council for the Central Biding have ascertained that the present rates for the Biding yield about £2.<::iD, while the royalties revenue for the Biding is about is about £l,();i;j. With the loss ot this latter amount, every penny of which was devoted to road maintenance, the fate.* will have in he increased if the roads are to he maintained as lieretolore. and a fifty per cent, increase in the rate.will he more than tlie district can bear, and will eertainlv depreciate the valvn of the settlers’ holdings. \Sillee the dairy farmers have gone in for milk .separation, their use <d th< loads is. loinpanttivoly. wry sun the local rates are more than atnnle fot the upkeep of the roads suitable fot the settlers’ light tradio But the re gular dailv t.ransjK)rt <d large motoi lurries heavily laden with timber ereiiti heavy maintenance charges and it- ■ 1.-ing proved that a motor tax thumb meet the test of repairs for dam s,ge done by the trnliie in question The lorries make several trips in : day. and idy in all weathers. Ft is ill) parent that the timber trallie dues tic must- harm to the roads, and d a’ adequate payment is not contribute: on iuio-.int e.f tlt:*t trallie. Hie differ has to la- made up from the set let's’ rates. Seeing that- the revenu was impropriated t t the local hcidic 1 some 2D years ago for maintenam e am upkeep, it is very unfair now to ink the money for quite another puniest This district i- going to be a great Inset . IM( | :t lieavv sufferer, and the penpl ' „|’ the distri'-t will bek to you to see 1 fair measure of justice done so tha j tl:.* r.a tetiayers "ill not be penaltM- ' unduly. , Tin- inatti-r is regarded here its in liui-t imp rtanl aspect of Iced govef- ' me,it wl-i,-It lias cropped no. nnd amon the ratepayers is a fruitful topic _i eon versa til i’ll. All feel that a great 11 ’ ju-.liee i> being done, ami that there 1 the opportunity and the need for ill : government to art liberally an 1 promptly in the niiitler in restoim the eonl’n-lem e ol the p*-e.ple in regal fjiir dealing in t i t’i s vet'y Vlt! qiiedinu of local body revenue. ’ On .behalf of the Shareholders ol tl: Company, I am. Rt. Hon Sir. Vein's i-.-sp-eel fiillv. •lAS FLEMING. ’ Chairman of Director