MINISTER CONDEMNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 13

MINISTER CONDEMNED

COUNTY COUNCIL ANGRY TREE-PLANTING AT PUTARURU (From Our Own Correspondent) PUTARURU, To-day. There were some outspoken comments at yesterday’s meeting of the Matamata County Council following the reading of a letter from the ITon. O. J. Hawken with reference to treeplanting operations south of Putaruru. The Minister has consistently omitted to deal witli important points referred to him by the council in the interests of their ratepayers, and this shelving of issues roused members to use strong terms. In his latest letter the Minister stated trees were exempt from rating to encourage planting for timber, wood pulping or any other purpose, and that the exemption must continue if the Government was to keep faith with afforestation companies. Timber was a crop, and there was no more justification for levying rates on its value than on a wheat crop. The Chairman: There is a good deal of truth in what he says. Mr. Judd: And a good deal of untruth also. Though we rate on the capital value, with forestry lands we have to rate on the unimproved value, while if the land were improved as he says with wheat, we would be rating on the improvements and getting more rates. To compare trees with wheat is most unfair, as they are governed by different circumstances. Cr. Rollett: That is so. The Clerk: The Minister again omits to deal with the question of farmers who are isolated by forestry operations, and classification of lands. Cr. Allen: Any land planted with trees is exempt from land tax. Cr. Judd: The whole trouble is that the present legislation watered for a particular set of circumstances in the past, and they will not bring it up to date. After further discussion the council decided to again draw attention to the serious position in regard to the isolation of settlers, and also to request again that the Government classify the pumice areas so that land suitable for farming should not be planted in trees.