TIMBER ROYALTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1927, Page 1

TIMBER ROYALTIES

The Westland County Council lately communicated with the Grey County Council relative to the raid on timber royalties revenue by the State Forest Service.

In supporting the Westland County the Grey County Council wrote to Air Holland, Loader of the Opposition, as follows

I beg to enclose herewith a copy of correspondence that has passed between the Westland County Council and the Commissioner of State Forests. The Commissioner does not appear to be any way sympathetic to local body claims and points out that on 1 v one-fifth of the Ices from block sales of timber in milling reserves, over which State lorests have been proclaimed, are payable to County Councils. The State forest lias sold one block under this system for £4OOO rovultv. and although the Council is asked to maintain several miles of road for this one sawmill, almost the whole of this revenue goes to the State Forests. Since the passing of the Forest Act. standing timber lias now been declared noil-rateable, and i" Council practically receives no revenue from this mill for road maintenance. In addition, tbc settlers at Tlolionu and Lake Brunner are being unduly penalised owing to the Council’s inability to maintain the road against the extraordinary traffic. Of course, the Council can reduce the classification of the road, but this means the closing of the mill and my Council has no wish to further hamper the industry.

In the course, of dseussion at the Drey County Council’s meeting Cr. H. 0. Carter declared that the money spent by the Forestry Re-, partment iu experimental planting in Westland had gone west, ms a result of costly administration. IT the. Department was adopting the same metilioid in other parts of New Zealand then things must be in a pretty had way. The chairman (Mr Ryall) said he did not think there was any chance of having the State- forestry scheme sera pped while Sir Francis Dillon Roll was alive. ‘‘There’s nothing we can do,” lie continued, “unless we send a- remit to the County Councils O inference recommending tint. the Stale Forest Department he wiped out altogether.” The County Clerk said lie did not think that much good could lie achieved by pursuing that line of action. Cr. Carter: ‘’There’s no chance of getting any timber rov:111 ies while this sort of thing is going on. The whole ol the money must be going in administration costs.” The chairman said the Council was powerless in the matter and the discussion ended.