TIMBER WARRANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1925, Page 4

TIMBER WARRANTS

corin' opposes ini lease. OREYAiOLTH, March 25. In the Greymouth Warden’s Court yesterday morning evidence was given by a member of the State Forestry Department giving reasons why the Department asked for an increased royalty i n timber in a reserve in the Alawheraiti District in which .Messrs Stratford and Blair asked for a timber warrant. When heard some time ago. Messrs Stratford and Blair opposed the application for an increased royally and the ease was adjourned, to allow the State Forestry Department an import unity to slate their reason for the increase.

The reason advanced for the proposed increase was that some cheek was necessary to (oiiservc the trees and to enable the Department to have some cheek on their telling. 'I fie trees were cut much foster than they were growing. Thu increase to Is (id was what the Department was charging on their reservations and they wanted other reserves brought into line. The Warden held that it bad hocn the invariable practice of the Court to adhere to the minimum rate fixed by the Government although power had been given the ( ourt to raise it in cases where such a eour.'c was for the best.. The s.iwmilliiig industry was, at the present time, however, not in a favourable condition lor increases to he made, and indeed lately some mills had been compelled to close. L> encourage (lie imlustrv ihe Court had al

mils adhered to the m'ltimtim ra Nii.v ma , a pm ti.'uhirh uuh.ipm, n

iiumi L to apply for an increase. II the Department wished for an increased rale, it. should, in his opinion, he done bv regulation, and not through the medium of the Warden s Court. It v. as important that the policy adopted I, v the Court should he uniform so that no hardship would he thrown on the mills. The increase to his mind was mat. desirable. Strattord and llluir (Mr Revell) Mere therefore granted a timber warrant in Block \\L. Alawheraiti S.D. at the Court royalty of Is nor 100 superficial feet.