VOTE OPPOSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 16

VOTE OPPOSED.

SAWMILLING INDUSTRY.

STATE IX COMPETITION*. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Opposing an item of £92,000 for sawmilling activities at Rotorua, Omahuta. Hanmer .Springs and Conical Hill, when the vote of JL300..V22 for State forest services was being considered in the House of Representatives, meinl>ers of the Opposition forced a division which was unsuccessful. The Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Hamilton, said that the State should not enter into competition with the sawmilling industry. He moved that the vote be reduced l»y the amount in the subdivision providing for gawmilling and other activities, and said that he did so because he was opposed to State com - I petition in businesses that were not a monopoly. Mr. A. S. Richards (Government. Roskill) : What al>out the State Fire? Mr. Hamilton said the State Fire Office was certainly partly competitive, but he did not think the two could be compared. If the State entered into the sawmilling business it would lose royalties and taxes that were j>aid by private sawr.iillers. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) said the sawmilling industry had lieen developed by private individuals who had not made undue profits and there was no justification for the State to enter into competition when everything was to it* advantage. Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) said a similar move had been made in Queensland and the lesson was there for anybody to read. Mr. J. G. Coates (National. Kaipara) said that the experiences of the past had shown that the State could not compete with private enterprise. Mr. J. A. Lee (Government. Grey Lynn): State enterprise and private benefit. Mr. Coates: Oh. no. Mr. Lee: The State grows the trees. Mr. Coates: No. The land grows tile trees. The State plants the trees. Mr. Coates said the State was not in charge of all afforestation. A division was taken on the amend ment and It was defeated bv 32 votes to 11.