The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1928. TIMBER ROYALTIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1928. TIMBER ROYALTIES.

Timber royalties .so important to the revenue of the local bodies and the general government, are again in issue with both the Grey and Westland Counties and the State Forest Service. It is a very long story since the legal points were first raised under which it was held, and held successfully, that the local bodies were being short paid. Without going into the legal issue openly, the Government Department agreed to make a payment which it was held was a settlement in full. But without disclosing the basis on which the settlement was computed it was

not a very fair way of treating a local body particularly as the payer was no less an authority than the Government itself. But the local bodies did not allow their rights to remain in abeyance, and two further payments, without disclosing the basis of settlement, were made. It is interesting to recall that one of these payments was made on the advice of two lawyer members of the Cabinet at the time—Sir F. D'. Bell and lion A. L. Herdman—but again the issue was clouded by reticence, and the local bodies remained unsatisfied that the legal and lawful claims were not paid in full. Then, when a Royal Commission sat on the subject, and a layman presided, it will be recalled that Commissioner Straudion baulked at the legal questions raised by the local body representative, and the finding did not go as far as was wished. Since then there has been the request for an open enquiry before a high authority—a Judge of the Supreme Court has been suggested—to settle the matter once and for all This has been refused without adequate reasoning on the part of the Government. If the Government case is as strong as the Department asserts, surely there is everything to gain in going before a deciding tribunal. But the Government will not take the step, nor will it produce figures to show its complete adjustment of the claims made. The matter is of special import to the ratepayers of the local bodies. It is considered in some qua 1 ■ ters that the amount at issue totals a very considerable sum, while additional sums are involved in the future if the local body’s contention as to the interpretation of the law, is correct. It is very importantfi therefore, in the interests of local body finance present, and prospective, to see that the Council receive all that is due them. It is notorious, of course, that timber haulage is responsible for very considerable damage to the roads, and the local bodies have a perpetual drain on funds to keen up many of the roads. On that account the Councils cannot forego revenue of a special nature designed by the framers of the law long ago to meet such a position. In particular, Westland is said to be the Dominion reservoir of the future for native timber supplies, and it is due to those who coane after in the administration of local affairs to see that their income from the special source for a particular purpose is safeguarded. There is one aspect of the controversy as far as it bias now developed, which is of interest. The Minister has indicated a list of payments said to have been made, yet the sums by some £1520 do not appear to have reached the local coffers. This is a point which needs to be cleared up to the satisfaction o', tliofse concerned. The letter of the County Council to the Minister sets out in conclusion that the local body is of opinion it has not received its fair proportion of the accruing revenues, and considers that a Judge’s opinion should l>e taken on the legal aspect It is a fair-offer to make in all the circumstances, and seeing that this

matter lias dragged on now for so many years, the Government should he rejoiced to bo clear of it by such a definite process as proposed, which is intended to do merely what is lawful and equitable in the matter to jiublic local bodies.