KAURI TIMBER MILLING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 228, 24 September 1903, Page 5

KAURI TIMBER MILLING.

THE NEW REGULATIONS.

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The newly-gazetted regulations concerning the disposal of kauri timber were brought under the notice of the House by Mr. F. E. Baume this afternoon, the member" for Auckland asking the Minister for Lands whether, in view of the dissatisfaction with which the regulations dated.the 18th August. 1903, dealing with kauri forests situated in the Auckland land district have been received in Auckland, and of the reasons therefor, they will not revoke such regulations, and revert to the previously existing system of disposal, and if no' why not'/ .Mr. Baume said that a grea: deal of dissatisfaction hud been expressed in Auckland with reference to the regulations. A very serious alteration had been made in the method erf disposing of these lands, and apart from the question that the regulations were really Government by . Order-in-Council, there were other serious objections. The former method was that the timber to be sold was valued by the Crown rangei, wb. fixed the upset price, and the highest bidder obtained the bush. This method absolutely fair, but tbe present system did away with the old system of fair competition, and entrusted the whole matter to the Minister and officials. While no one would cast any reflection on the present head of the department or his subordinates, it was felt that it was not a fair thing to put in their hands the power proposed.

Mr. Duncan: Give us the name of tbe company objecting? Mr. Baume replied that he was speaking on oehalf of the people of Auckland, who did not wish to see the Government possessing the powers in the regulations. Under these, a miller made application to the commissioner, that is, the Minister, who "nay or may not hand it over to him at the price. It would be quite easy under the new law. as had been pointed out by the Auckland "Herald," for the Minister to instruct to fix a low valuation, and then, when applications came in. to grant the timber to one miller without any competition', and a corrupt Minister could, by collusion, make a gigantic fortune in two years. He presumed it was not likely that any member of the [Ministry would so misuse his power, but it was not right to put such powers in his hands. Such regulations were unwise. He had yet to learn what.had caused the Government to alter the previous regulations, and for the sake of the Government it would be well if they were revoked, because there was a feeling in Auckland that an applicant, if he happened to be of the right colour, would get. the timber. Strong Government supporters were objecting, as well as opponents of the Government.

The Minister, in reply, said that the question had come, not through the people of Auckland at all. but from the Kauri Timber Company. Mr. Baume, rising to a point of order, asked if the Minister was in order in stating that he (Mr. Baume) was speaking on behalf of the Kauri Timber Company ? The Minister assured Mr. Baame that he did not mean to suggest that. He meant that the.uewspaper had stated the case on behalf of the Kauri Timber Company. The Minister went on to say that lie happened to be at a sale of timber in Auckland, where'four or rive representatives of companies were present. The bush was mixed kauri and totara, and the representatives said that they were not going to bid unless the totara was taken out, telling the commissioner that the upset price, as submitted, was too high. No offer was made, and immediately the bush was passed in the Kauri Timber Company's representative bought the whole lot at the upset price. The Minister's insinuation was that the. companies arranged among themselves who was to purchase each block, and thus kept the prices down. "We know what the Kauri Timber Company lias got," continued Mr. Duncan; "they have nearly half the kauri in Auckland, and they want to get the whole of it so that they can rig the market, and charge what prices they choose." This, he continued,, they would not be able to do under the new regulations, and as soon as the Auckland public- understood, then they would uphold them. Mr. Goldie and many others had telegraphed to him saying that it wa.s the best thing the Government had ever done as regards timber, and that there would soon be no timber at all unless something were done. The regulations were now fair to everyone. The Government wanted to conserve the timber, not only for the sawniillers, but also for the general public. The regulations were fair and above board, and there was no possibility for anyone to make money in the manner suggested by Mr. Baume. The Land Board would examine every applicant, and each would get a year's supply ahead.to keep him going. If they were to allow the previous system to continue, the one company would monopolise" the whole thing, and as soon as they got every thin« in their hands they would put on what price they-liked, and the public would have to pay it. The Premier had received wires from Auckland expressing the senders' satisfaction at what had been done, and he (Mr. Duncan) had had them as well. He did not believe that the public Mould oppose the regulations if they knew what they were doing.

. Mr. Baume reminded the Minister that it was not the '"Herald" nor the Kauri Timber Company, but a very strong Government supporter, who had urged him to put the question.

At a later stage Mr. Taylor, referring to the matter, said that the Ministers ieply did not go far enough. It was decidedly wise to prevent any company getting a monopoly of the timber, but there was nothing to prevent the timber companies continuing to keep up the j price of timber. ! Mr. Hall-Jones: The Trades Monopoly Bill will prevent that. , Mr. Taylor went on to express the] opinion that no further timber should be sold. The reservation of the unsold timber would enable the .State to closely watch the prices charged, and if at any time they charged more than a reasonable rate, the Government could start milling just as they had started a State coal mine, in order to fix a maximum J' rate and check the rapacity of the large j~ companies. The price of timber was j going up steadily in the South, through a continuation of the merchants in the 11 towns with the millers on the West Coast, and if the Government could interfere it would have the effect of fixing prices at a fair level.