“GOOD DEAL OF UNTRUTH.”

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 262, 15 November 1928, Page 1

“GOOD DEAL OF UNTRUTH.”

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. Some Effects of Forestry. “ Crime Against Nation.” One of the most outspoken discussion that has taken place in the coun-. cil chambers of the Matamata County Cpuncil took place on Friday, following, the reading of a further letter from the Commissioner of State Forests (Hon. O. J. Hawker) with reference to the problems arising out offorestry operations south of Putaruru. Letters from the Hon. Mr. Hawken have consistently omitted to deal with important points referred to him by the council in the interests of their ratepayers, and this shelving of issues roused most of the members at Friday’s meeting. To speak plainly, such words and phrases as “ disgrace,” “ shame ” and “ national scandal ” were frequently used. Replying to correspondence from the council the Commissioner advised that exemption of trees from rating was done to encourage planting with a view to supplying the Dominion’s needs, whether for building timber or wood pulping or for any other purpose, and that the exemption must continue if the Government was to keep faith with those who had entered into schemes for commercial purposes.

Apart from this, the Department considered that rating on standing timber was not sound in principle. The land on which it grows should be, and is, rateable, and in counties which rated on the capital vajue, the value of improvements on buildings, etc., would also be included in the rateable value. Timber, however, could not be properly regarded as an improvement. Timber was a crop, and there was no more justification for levying -rates on its value than on a wheat crop. It might be that while planting was in progress the contribution in rates was not commensurate with the use made of the roads, but on the other hand there would be a long period of growth during which the position would be the reverse. On the whole it would probably be found that those engaged in afforestation would contribute a fair share in rates. The levy authorised by the Finance Act could be improved only on sawn timber from native trees that had not been planted. r chairman: There is a good deal of truth in what he says. Cr. Judd: And a good deal of untruth also. With forestry we have to rate on the unimproved value, and it is not correct to compare it with wheat.

The chairman: I can’t see your point. Cr. Judd: Well, in actual practice 1 forestry lands are rated on the unimproved value, while if the land were improved as he says we would be rating on wheat and getting more rates. In forestry they improve the capital value, but we cannot rate on the improvements. In most farms of wheat, as he quotes, the values soon double themselves. To compare with wheat is most unfair. Cr. Rollett: Yes; that’s the point. Cr. Judd: Certainly there is no chance of the unimproved values increasing under forestry. ' Cr. Allen: Their attitude seems to be very vexatious The chairman: There is another letter on that point. The clerk: There is another aspect which the Minister does not reply to. The clerk then went on to say that no answer had been given to the point the council had raised in regard to certain farms being isolated by forestry operations. Cr. Dee: I always thought their land was exempt. Cr. Judd: No; only the trees. The chairman: They don’t consider the trees to be an improvement. Cr. Allen: Yes; but any land planted in trees is exempt from land tax. The chairman: Yes, that is so, but it only amounts to a few shillings on most farms. Cr. Judd: The whole trouble is that the present legislation catered £or a * particular set of circumstances inTtluj past, and has not been brought up tq

date, and they do not wish to bring it up to date. The engineer: We have an instance in the county where we have to maintain a road beyond the forestry operations for the benefit of one farmer. Cr. Bruce: Rating on the unimproved value would catch them. The engineer: Tokoroa would gain by unimproved value, and would have it to-morrow if it were a separate county. A further letter from the Commissioner stated the writer’s regret at not replying to the question as to enquiry into future cases of farm lands being used for tree-planting purposes and promising to consider further cases on their merits.

Cr. Rollett: They have no controlover what a man does privately. ! Cr. Judd: Only through the valua- ! tion and land tax. The matter is , very serious, and I am told this morning that the Club run has been sold for tree-planting. Cr. Cox: That’s so; they are giving him a send off to-night. The Club run has been farmed for 40 years and . is served by a bitumen road. Cr. Judd: Well, that’s a most ser- • ious thing. For 3000 acres like this ; alongside the road to be taken for J trees is a tremendously serious thing for the country. Cr. Cox: Yes; and 1000 acres of it are in grass:

Cr. Allen: It seems to me that the Government is very short-sighted. Anyone knows that this land is fast coming in with scientific investigation and the application of manures, and it’s a national scandal that it should be planted in trees. We have been asking them for 12 months to classify the lands and they have done nothing but shelve the issue.

Cr. Judd: It’s a crime against the nation, and should be stopped. The chairman: That would be a drastic step. Cr. Judd: Many drastic steps have been taken against the individual for the nation’s good. Cr. Cox: We could convert the whole county under the unimproved value. Cr. Bruce: Yes; there are no townships now that Putaruru and Matamata are out, with the exception of Waharoa. Cr. Allen: This would be a very good lever to put before ratepayers. Cr. Rollett: In theory it should be all right, but it doesn’t always work out in practice. On the motion of Crs. Judd and Cox, it was decided to again write and point out that the Minister had again omitted to refer to the isolation of settlers by forestry operations. Cr. Judd: In regard to the Club run, the position is now most serious, for this area is good for subdivision. Cr. Rollett: They (the companies) are following up their bonds, for they made a point that they are planting trees qn grass lands where there would be no loss as there has | been amongst fern and ti-tree where other companies plant. Cr. Dee: The Club run was one of the first to be taken up by the old Thames Valley Company nearly 50 years ago, and it’s a shame it should be planted in trees. The engineer then gave the figures

relating to the Club run as follows: Improvements £7200, unimproved value £I3OO, area 3823 acres, present rate, general £57, special £34, total £9l. From now on, said the engineer, the rating would be on £I3OO only if trees were planted. Cr. Judd: Also, the run is only six miles from Putaruru, is most suitable for subdivision, and would then increase in rateable value and also th”

productivity . of the country. . Cr. Cox: The T.T.T. line also runs through it. The chairman: Of course they mayhave an idea of cutting up a portion , of it for farming purposes. I On the motion of Crs. Anderson J and Allen, it was decided to again i request that a classification of lends be made and to instance the Clu > ~un as to the effects of the present policy.