BIG TIMBER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1928, Page 7

BIG TIMBER

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE? WELLINGTON, Oct. 9. That there is a prospect of the early development of the largest area ol standing timber in New Zealand, in the Taicpo'-Tongariro district, was the outstanding fact which emerged in the House of Representatives to-day on the presentation of a report by the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of (Natives in the Taupo area, asking that certain Eases they had granted to the Tongariro Timber Company be cancelled and that the timber revert to the Maoris. No recommendation was made by the committee.

The area in question was the largest tract of standing timber in New Zealand, said Mr R. W. Smith (Waimarino).. There were 45,000 acres, carrying 32,000 feet board measurement to the acre. The Tonga riro Standing Timber Company now proposed to exploit the timber, having already made arrangements with a large number of millers to get the timber out and so secure to the Natives substantial royalties. A present there were 'BOO men deprived of employment in the timber industry, but if this proposition proceeded tliev would be re-established on a. reasonable wage. Tt would sound the death-knell to a big porportion of the King Country if this proposition was not allowed to proceed, Mr Smith said. He was - confident the Government would not prevent the Company from completing their negotiations. A vigorous protest was voiced by Mr .1. S. Dickson (Parnell), who characterised the scheme as outlined as “the biggest- timber -ring formed in New Zealand. He believed that Mr Smith wished to mislead the House. Ostensibly Mr Smith had pleaded for the timber workers, but he had not told tlio House how £70,000 to £BO,OOO involved in the matter many years ago had been spent. “The less he tells us about the Tongariro Timber Company the better, and the better it will he for the Government of the time, ’’ lie said. - “Why doesn’t the lion, member be lionest and tell us all about it, and bow that money was spent?” Mr Smith objected to the inference that lie bad been dishonest, and Mr Dickson withdrew.

Mr E. -T- Howard suggested that far greater returns than any private company would secure for the Natives could be obtained if the Government stepped in and opened up mills. The Government owned a considerable amount of the timber. • 1 Mr Smith: Quite wrong. The Prime Minister explained that three-fourths of .the G-l-r belonged to the Natives and one-fourth to the Government. The Maoris’ rights should not be overlooked. He would never be a party to compelling the taking of the timber. “I have' no objection to the State negotiating on the basis of the State being the pivot on which the areas shall be allocated to millers, added Mr Coates.

Sir Apirana Ngata said the apprehension. of the Natives was that if tile contracts were terminated the Crown might not regard the timber as an asset while it belonged to Natives. Once it belonged to the Crown it was a different matter. Such was the experience of the Maoris. One thing quite clear to the Native mind was that the timber interests were not enthused with the idea of giving the Maoris big returns ■' 11 the timber interests were concerned with was making as (much as possible out of tlio timber, and talk about killing the King Country should be taken with a large portion of salt. ... . ' V Cl:!..