AFFORESTATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 494, 24 August 1912, Page 3

AFFORESTATION.

A QUESTION OF RATING. P EX EM TING TREE PLANTATIONS. At last meeting of the Waitomo County Council the following letter on the subject of tree planting, and the proposal to exempt plantations from rate was received. The letter has been sent to County Co&ncils throughout the Dominion with the object of having the subject considered prior to discussion at the next County Council's Conference: —■ "I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Agriculture, to bring before your notice the following matter in connection with the encouragement of afforestation. Last year the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union passed the following resolution: That with a view to encouraging re-afforestation by private enterprise, to supplement that carried on by the State more particularly with the object of making tree planting more general, instead of being confined to a few localities the Dominion Conference endeavour, to promote legislation so as to exempt the plantation for timber and shelter purposes, of over an acre in extent from rates.

"Something has already been done in the direction of indicated by the Farmers' Union. For instance, native bush, or native trees planted for shelter or ornamental purposes on areas not exceeding 25 acres,is exempt from rates and taxes. Again plantations of exotic trees without limitation of area are assessed as improvements under the Valuation of Land Act, up to the cost of planting and are exempt fr<wn rates in districts where the system of rating on unimproved value is in force. There remain, however,those districts where rating is on the capital value, and it has been suggeted that, in order to encourage afforestation, an Act should be passed amending the Rating Act, 1908, by excepting from the definition of 'ratable property" tree planting which is effected on freehold land by the expenditure of capital or labour contributed by the owner or occupier, to the value of such planting estimated at the time of trie valuation; but before doing anything in the matter, it was thought desirable to ascertain the opinion of those bodies whose sources of income would be affected by the adoption of the proposal. County Councils, and perhaps, to a lesser extent, Borough Councils, will be the principal bodies affected. I am approaching the Municipal Association, and shall be glad if you will lay the matter before your conference for an expression of its opinion. Possibly other suggestions may be made by it as to the methods by which afforestation may be encouraged. Suchsuggestions will be welcomed, for the question of tree planting, and I am sure you will agree with me in this, is one of national importance, and merits considerable attention. — F. S. POPE, Secretary."