WATER BOARD’S REPORT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 172, 21 April 1928, Page 12

WATER BOARD’S REPORT

APPOINTMENT OF FORESTRY OFFICER CRITICISED BY CITY COUNCILLORS IS BOARD TRAVELLING TOO FAST? Criticism of certain proposals contained in the report of the City and Suburban Waler Board was vpiced by several City Councillors last night, wnen the report of the board was under discussion. The bulk of the criticism was levelled at the appointment of the forestry officer. “That Mr. A. N. Perham, Conservator of Forests, Rotorua district, is to be appointed forest officer to the board.” When the above clause of the \\ ater Board’s report came before the City Council last night, the Mayor explained that the board had come to a decision in the matter of a forestry officer. They must have expert advice to aid them in •carrying out this great project. It had a certain financial aspect, too, and in that respect he did not. know what they were to do without the services of an expert. For that reason the board had agreed to the appointment, and he thought it would be the best thing to do under the circumstances. Councillor J. Aston raised the question as to the position of the council in its relation to the board. Was iho report one which came before them simply a s a report of a committee, or v.as if a self-contained board? If the latter were tire case, they vyere 01, dy talking round the subject. Power of Veto. The Mayor said that he had looked into the question and the .Act, and had found that, the council had the power of veto, but he would ask councillors to be very careful indeed before exercising that power. Councillor W. 11. Bennett understood that their representatives were to receive their instructions from the Council on all vital matters. As it was, it might be that one councillor would differ from another on the board, when, to use vulvar parlance, they would be “in the *oup.”

The Mayor said that. if that were to be the case, it would have to apply to the Highways Board, the Fire Board, the Technical Board, the College governors, and all other bodies on which the Council had representatives.

Should Appointment Be Held Over? Councillor Aston said he was inclined to move that the appointment be held over a year. He thought that for a start they could very svcll get along with a ranger, assisted by their own officers. Yet here they were appointing an officer at .£750 a year, together with a cadet. He would satisfy himself by voting against the clause. Councillor R. McKeen was inclined to agree with Councillor Aston, and, continuing, said it was certainly the opinion of members of the House, when the Bill went through, that there were to be no million rights given, over this area. As a matter of fact, the Council had not agreed to the issue of milling rights. There were to be a number of questions asked on the floor of the House as to the milling rights, and also on the appointment of an officer at £750 a year before there war. any revenue. lie also referred to the matter of trapping opossums in the area. Ho maintained that Hie Council’s representatives on the board, should get a mandate from the Count'd before deciding such important matters.

Opossum Trapping. The Mayor replied that the council had decided to try out the system ot letting a big "block' in the hope ot stopping illegal trapping. The returns had not been sufficient to justify tho J' e P u * tatidn the block enjoyed as one ot tins finest opossum-trapping areas in New Zealand. It was stated that cars had gone from Wellington, returning in the early hours of the morning after a night’s trapping. The best skins were obtained in that area Councillor H. D. Bennett agreed that the clauses should have come as recommendations to the City Council. J.hat was what the Act stated. The question was what was the best procedure to adopt. At one time ho thought the board should have been established in the form of a committee to the council. Then the clause relating to opossum trapping would have keen more comprehensive. The question was whether the recommendations of the board should ipso facto receive the approval of the council. The council had the final word, and it was the power of veto that was raised now, I'or the council’s representatives were acting _with representatives of other bodies which only provided 20 per cent, of the expenditure. He thought that in matters of policy it was advisable to seek tho advice of the City Council. However, he thought they would not be unwise in making the appointment now, and the revenue which would be forthcoming in twelve months would justify if. If councillors .were, as closely in touch with the matter—outside of sawmilling altogether—as members of the board, they would be satisfied with the recommendations. Tt had been decided to ask the Government to promote legislation empowering the board to spend up to .£7OOO per annum plus any revenue, and lie had hoped that the Mayor would have made a statement in reference to a proposed meeting with (he Government in this matter. They had also been promised a substantial sum by other local bodies interested in the reservation towards tree planting. He was at present opposed to a scheme of sawmilling, but regarding the appointment he thought it was a necessary ono. "I am very , pleased to hear the powers of the City Council clearly defined to-night," said Councillor J. Burns. The sooner the board understood the City Council was the controlling body the better. He would like the question of milling settled before the appointment was made. Councillor Luckier "We are wasting a fearful lot of time." Ho urged the absurdity of the council requiring fo know :usf as much about the work ns members of the board, and .asked if the council was not prepared to trust its representatives. • Against Sawmilling Rights. Councillor R. .Semple pointed out that on February 9, tho City Council agreed to tha appointment of an officer to look utter, tho area mentioned. The discussion should have taken place on that occasion. To do so now was to shut the stablo door after the horse had escaped. He had been rather uncomfortable on the board, as he thought that he had detected the "flcshless finger of usury’’ at work, and the time was not far off when there might be something said about land jobbery. There was no need for him to reiterate his uncompromising hostility against sawmilling rights being granted, for this area they were dealing with was, a heritage for posterity, not perhaps for those alive to-day, but for those who would come after them. He had discussed the matter with members on both sides of the House, and there was not one of them but agreed that the bu»h should be preserved as a means of water conservation. Tt was not only the trees that wore felled, but the number of other trees that must suffer by such operations. He opposed the board’s proposal in regard to opossums, as the blocks would 70 to the man with most money, and the man who was "on the rocks” would be cut blit. The decision of the board was wrong, and the trapping of opossums should be only upon the royalty basis. He moved that the trapping of opossums lie done on a royalty basis. Th® Mayor, aa chairman of the board,

had mentioned, in his figures, that was to come from milling rights. He must have assumed that the Council was agrieing to chop down the bush in a whole Sa Coun«ilor Huggins said the scheme was a great one, but it was obvious that if the expenditure was limited to d-oOIM) the scheme would be strangled. The board had also properly decided that to carry on the work they must have a capable administrative officer, and he was glad to know that the young man was a New Zealander, whom the Government had seen fit to send to Canada to gain further experience.

Greatest Trust in New Zealand. This vast area of land entrusted to the Water Board for a pure water supply was one of the greatest trusts made in New- Zealand, said Councillor Morpeth. Some of it had been burned off, and they were called upon to reafforest this. To’grant indiscriminate milling rights was unthinkable, but the late Director of the Forest Service had advised them that certain milling could be done without detriment to the bush. In his Ofinion, the advice of an expert officer was necessary. Regarding the financial proposals he approved of them, as he v. as satisfied that the board had gone carefully into these matters. The area required to be rounded off and proper.y taken cave of. The remarks of councillors attributing evil intentions to members of the board were unfortunate, and he deplored them. Couneilolr G. G. H. Burn expressed his opposition to granting any i. filing lights, and moved that tho clause relating to it be deleted.

Report Affirmed. The Mayor reminded members that when they have gifts certain obligations were imposed upon them. This included large areas within and without the watersheds, and there were lands in rhe Whakatiki and the Little Akatarawa watersheds amounting to 10,000 acres that were privately owned, and if they were to obtain the water from those streams they must purchase this land land which would cost possibly .£35,000, involving an annual payment of .£2500 a year. So it was obvious that if these lands were to be secured —and the Government knew these lands had to bu secured—they had to face the expense. If they did not. do so. the scheme would ho strangled at its birth. He referred co the Act, which laid it down that they must appoint an officer to supervise the area; then it stated they had to. prepare plans of the blocks; and within 12 months had to produce a working plan covering five years. How could they do that, without the proper officer? Further. they must submit the plan to the Minister for his approval—it was now in the hands of the Government. So it seemed that they were a sheep without a shepherd ; they must have a shepherd. He commended the report to the council. submitting they were doing a wise thing in appointing this officer. Without him they could do nothing. Councillor Semple’s amendment in regard to trapping on a royalty basis only was carried by seven votes to six. The report was then approved.