CONTROL OF FORESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1921, Page 5

CONTROL OF FORESTS.

> BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. DETAILS DISCUSSED. By Talegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House went into committee tonight on the Forests Bill, which is in charge of the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, At clause 14 Mr. O. Hawken mont) moved an amendment, the effect of which would; have been to ensure the compulsory retirement of three mem--1 bers of the board at stated periods, such members not being eligible for reappointment, the object being to ensure a supply of new blood to the forest advisory board. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Hawken agreed to withdraw his amendment, the Minister undertaking to submit the proposal to the At-torney-General, who was reaxy the father of the Bill. If Sir Francis Bell agreed to accept the amendment it would be inserted in another place. Mr. T. Seddon (Westland) moved that at least two representatives of county councils be appointed to the board. The. Minister at first refused to consider the amendment, but on many members supporting it he agreed to hold over consideration of the whole clause in order to give time for consultation with Sir Francis Bell. At clause 17, Mr. R, McCallum (Wairau) moved an amendment providing that if the advisory board should tender advice to the Minister, and that advice was not accepted, tne reasons for non-acceptance should be stated in the annual report. The Minister refused to accept the amendment, and on a division it was lost by 33 votes to 16. At clause 20 Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) moved an amendment which would have the effect of placing provisional forests under the control of the Minister of Forests instead of the Minister of Lands. The Minister opposed the amendment, contending that the Minister of Lands was the proper person tp determine whether the land set aside as provisional forests was fit for settlement, and he could not agree th hand over land settlement to another department. On a division, the amendment was Jost by 26 votes to 9. In clause 33, on the Minister’s motion, the term for which a lease might be granted under the clause was increased from fifteen to twenty-five years.

In reply to Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), the Minister said there was no intention to interfere with the existing arrangements for collecting royalties on timber, and local bodies would not be impoverished by the passing of the Bill. At 12.27 a.m. progress was reported on the BilL