The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1928. A MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1928. A MINISTERIAL VISIT

Thu district is being favoured this week with a Ministerial visit, and there will he at least some satisfaction in that the visit is not as fleeting as has been customary on the somewhat rare occasions Ministers pass this way. The present visit is the more important because the Hon. 0. Ha when is Commissioner of State Forests. Westland County is easily the most important timbler-bcaring area under the Minister’s jurisdiction, there being over a million and a-quartor acres of timber-bearing lands—a total far beyond any other defined area controlled by the Minister's department. Such lieing the case, the Afinister might well have occasion to visit here frequently and for a prolonged period. However, as is so often the ease, departmental authority appears to have a good deal of sway, but this does not pdd to the prestige of the Government. Indeed, the prestige of tlie party in power lias suffered very considerably in these parts because of l he departmental policy. The rigours of the forestry policy were explained to the then Hon Minister at the outset of its adoption. But sad to relate, practically no sympathy came from that quarter, and we have lived to see many of the forebodings then predicted come to pass. The crass stupidity of the policy under which the Australian trade was lost to the West Coast is being felt all through New Zealand to-day. The loss of industry and consequent unemployment, is hut one side of the question. The economic loss in potential wealth gone beyond recall affects all parts of the Dominion. The bankruptcy of the industry itself, and the saddling of the industry and production by the overburden of the high cost of maintaining a very expensive department, is another serious aspect of the financial plight of to-day. The abrogation of local body revenue was a gross iniquity put upon the ratepayers, who lost the material aid to internal development that would have been possible under an equitable division of the royalties on the lines laid down originally. The manner and method of appropriating those funds was in no way cfeditable to the Government of the day, nor to this day has the promise of an equitable recompense been fulfilled. Much more might he said under this heading, but enough has been said to indicate the grievance the people here have at heart as to the operations of the State Forest system so far as the internal welfare of the district is concerned. There is next the extravagant management and methods of the Department, to meet which an extra impost is ©placed on production, and the additional money earned from the natural wealth of the district goes to support a costly policy which never can produce an adequate return for the money taken out of the pockets of the people these days. This may appear a sweeping statement, hut unfortunately it is the firm conviction of many who have watched the misguided efforts of those directing n policy, the outcome of which

must be a heavy financial waste. AVe hope during the Alinistcr’s visit he will study nature’s way of reafforestation, and bo impressed with the value of calling to bis aid. local views on bow reafforestation can be achieved without the extravagant methods now being attempted. All will agree that the re-birtli of the forests is essential for the future good, but that task might well be attempted by less costly and experimental methods. Theory lias bad full play for a long time, and the cost must be enormous. If the results were to be balanced against the cx|>eiiditiirc to date the dcicit would be astounding. The AliaIster might well look into this aspect for his own peace of mind if life is taking his nortfulio seriously, as no doubt he is. Westland is a great natural timber reserve for the rest of the Dominion. When the native timbers are exhausted elsewhere, forests will be flourishing here. AVe would ask the Minister in consider community interests in that respect, also. If this is to be a preserve of the nature indh eated, and the opening of the eounify is to he retarded and delayed for the ’enefit of posterity, then some quid pro quo should be returned to the People. Instead of subtracting from -,ie pockets of the people local revenue which should belong to the district, the s.ovornment should add to the revenue of the locality something in exchange for the benefits conserved for the whole of the Dominion. In other words, justice should he done to the local bodies in the matter of revenue and income. These are aspects of the depatnnentnl work which are regarded with great interest locally, and if the Alin istor would he disposed to show some equitable consideration for Lite necessities of the case, he will go some way towards finding favour with the people as a whole.