TIMBER ROYALTIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1924, Page 4

TIMBER ROYALTIES.

•DERUTATTON TO RIUAIE - -MINISTER. | WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. A deputation consisting ol 21 members ol both Houses ot Legislature waited on tlio J > riine iMiuister at Rarliament House this morning. The following were represented on the deputation or apologised for:— Hon J. Oritninond, lion MeTntyre, Hon 11. L. .Michel, Colonel A. Bell, Mr !■'. Lang-stone, .Mr .). Edie, Air A. •). .Murdoch. .Mr 11. Roland, Air do la Rerclle, .Mr (1. Forbes, Air K. .Williams, .Mr CL -MeKiiv, Air .1. C. Rolleston, Air T. Rhodes, Air E. A. Ransom, Air .1. O'Brien, Air .1. I.inklater, Air \V. .1. Girling. Air 11. Atniore, Air H. E. Holland, Air W. 11. Field. Air F. F. Ilocklv, Him J. (1. Coates, Air It. R. 11 udson. The deputation was introduced by Mr .1. O’Brien t Westland) who was the lirst speaker. Air O'lirien apologised for several members of l’arliament. who were unavoidably detained on important Committees, hut who were in full sympathy with the reel nest of the deputation. The deputation followed on a previous one which was to wait on the Prime Alinister some weeks ago, hut unfortunately illness pievented Air Alassev receiving them. The deputation was then taken by Sir Francis Bell. Sir Heaton Rhodes and the Hon Alel.eotl. The position was uowtylint the present Session was far advanced, and if anything was to he done it should he done at once. The report of the Commission set up to go into Timber Royalties was far from satisfactory. In that report it was shown that the area placed under the Forestry Department under Section til of the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1,1)18, and the Forestry Act ID-1--’2, including Commercial Forests. Protective Forests, and cut over and open lands, was d.K!2.21 I acres; and the area set apart under previous enact incuts was 1 ,7.'i2,0‘>2 acres. All of the timber and lias on these areas would have produced revenue to the local bodies, had the areas not been transferred to the forestry Department. One section of the report stated ‘‘that whatever might have been the intention of the legislaion in regard to timber royalties there was nothing to say that the royalties were to be paid” to local bodies, further on in the Report the Commissioner says that had these areas remained under the Lauds Department, royalties would have hccii paid. Now as to the intention of the Legislature one could only go hack to the recorded remarks of the principal members of the Legislature when they were framing the law. Speaking on the Timber and Flax Royalties Bill in IDIVj the Right Hon R. J. Soddon. IMmo Alinister. said, “more satisfaction will he given if wo definitely provide that half of the revenue derived (from timber and llax) should go to the local bodies. . . therefore this Bill provides that half of the gross revenue shall go to the local bodies.”

ATr T. AY. Rhodes: “lie said revenue not- royalties. Note that.” Afr O’Brien continuing: “And .von. Air Afussey, speaking immediately after Air Soddon said: “It is a great pity we did not have this Bill long ago. U would he more satisfactory to the local bodies to have derived their revenues, or part of it. from their timber find llax than to have to come to this House and ask for grants.” Those two speeches show quite clearly that the intention was that the local bodies should get. the revenues from timber and llax. Legislation, subsequent to thal passed in IDDd robbed the local bodies ol their right till heritage—the revenues from timber arid llax: and ho urged that legislation he brought down this Session to put these revenues on a basis that would give, some measure of justice to the local bodies. Air F. I.augstone (Waimarino) said llie Royalties were a burning question with Ideal bodies. Air .Massey: ‘‘Remember yon are not now speaking on a Bill. Ihe time is limited.” Air I.augstone: “No I'll remember that I am not speaking on a Bill, hut to one.” Continuing. .Air Langslono said that much of the timbered lauds were poor, and when the tinder was cut the bind was not worth L-i per acre. Consequently the land would not tarry enough rates to enabb* bji’al hndios in build and maintain roads ii liny did not get the royalties. Air T. AY. Rhodes (Thames) said the counties in his eleetorate bad boon done out uf royalties since IDLI. In the hist place they were to gel revenue. Later this term bad been changed to royalty and nt once a dispute arose over the term royalty as to whether it meant revenues or royalties Ibe local bodies were on their beam ends, and il .sometiling were not dune they would he in a very had state. The lion . Grimm,mil said AAeslland had to maintain mads I rum Arthur's l ass lu Okuru.. All I'm* land was covered with timber. Since getting gold had fallen oil' the enmity was hard put to it to carry mi. I hey needed

royalties from the limber and needed them badlv. The Hon 11. L. Aliehel said that boiled down there was a large revenue due from timber areas which bad l>ecu transferred In the Forestry Department. lie urged that legislation to

give back lo the local bndies wluit bad been taken from them hy recent legislation lie brought down immediately. in reply Air Alassev said be knew all that. bad been brought up by the deputation. As Air O’Brien bad said, be was in sympathy with the giving of revenues to local bodies in IDIId. But the land in 19! Jo was mostly frown lands and the royalties were divided so that the local bodies got half. Since then the land bad been transferred to State Forests, lie would see what < mild be done, lie would put the limiter before the Cabinet at the first op-p-nrunity and see if the royalties could be nut on a better footing. On behalf of the deputation, Afr O’Brien thanked ATr Alassev for the courteous hearing given them.