The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 1924.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 1924.

TH 1j ROYALTIES QUESTION*. The Government alter very long delay is recognising its obligations, at least in a measure, to the local bodies in respect to the royalties question. Leg. islntion this session, introduced very tardily, proposes to apportion a fractional part of the accruing revenue. One-fifth is the amount mentioned, though hitherto the quota was at least half and in the ease of certain territory

the whole of the revenue. When Mr Massey was in opposition he used to demand from lii.s scat in the House that the local bodies .should receive the whole of the revenue. It is not very consistent now when be is at the bead of the Government with power to give the whole, that he subscribes to Hut one fifth of the whole. It would appear that the local bodies must take tile fractional part or in.thing! It is 1 case of Hobson’s choice so far as the County Councils are concerned, and being so needy they must accept a dole in ] lace of a generous quota to which they have hitherto been legally entitled. Apparently Sir Francis Hell dominates the pisitiuu in the Government, and there is the implied threat that if there i.s any opposition to the grant the clause will he dropped in "liich case the local bodies would get nil. Beggars may not be choosers, as Sir Francis no doubt realises, and the local bodies will perforce have to accept what the Government will give. In a veiv high handed and quite unfair way the Government took front the local bodies their legal rights in the matter of this class of revenue. It is now proposed to return a very small moiety of the amount. One fifth is a very smalt percentage, where local finely interests are so much involved. Sir Francis has. however, made it plain that it is necessary for the Forestry Depnrtincnt to take what it can to holster up its position financially—and this need hardly l>e wondered at though it is surprising to find the Minister making so frank an admission even though it is the obvious. Tt is to be hoped that 11 10 present legislation wi not he the limit step in the matter or the part of the Government. Seeing that Ministers have recognised the rights of the local bodies in the matter, it should lie possible for the local hodies to so organise their forces in the interim before next session, that when Parliament meets next year ineiniiers representing the districts affected liv royalties revenue, will lie so or-

ganised as to present a very solid front to 'the Government and demand that measure of justice which under stress of circumstances now is withheld from the local bodies. The legislation as proposed in the Finance Hill cannot lathe final in this matter if a reasonable measure of justice is to be done, and tbo local bodies will be failing in their duty to tbo ratepayers if tlie volume of revenue which should ho received from the source involved is not received in reduction of rates and for the benefit of developing the district. The amount involved, it can be readily understood, is very considerable in timber bearing districts, and it is worth "bile tbo local bodies putting up tbo best figlit possible.