JUSTICE FOR SAWMILLERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 44, 20 August 1895, Page 2

JUSTICE FOR SAWMILLERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin—l sco by your report of the Counties.' Association Conference that the following rosolution was passed :—" That the Government be requested to amend the Bating Aot so as to enable oounty authorities to collect rates upon the value of the timber, 40., growing upon land when the persons acquiring the right to out timber, Ac, are not the owners of the land." Now s sir, I oonsider this most nnjust, and it is taxing looal industry with a vengeance. If the timber is to be taxed at all, surely it is the owner of the land who should pay it. As a matter of faot the miller pays a royalty for the timber and olears the big logs off the land, thereby giving the settler a much, better return on his property, and in oase of standing bush the owner will often receive enough for royalties and rents to pay for the felling of his bush after the mill his been through it. It is a fact also that the land owner oftens reoeiveß annually as royalty for the timber a sum that would keep a man comfortably. Then again, look at the immense amount of labonr and expense that is inourred in clearing lmd of big logs whioh have been felled, but generally this is not done for years, and then little by little, or else allowed to lie and rot. I oan conscientiously. Bay that I do not know of a single fawmiller who at the preaent time, having to pay royalty for his timber, is making more than bare wages, to say nothing of interest on his oapital and to provide for deterioration (whioh is very (treat) in value of his plant, and the inevitable shift to pastures new. I would ask you to kindly insert this, as I think the sawmiller is entitled to a oertain amount of consideration, as he employs a considerable number of men and pays them a high rate of wages; and I think the Government should support the industry as muoh as possible rather than handicap it, *o as to enable timber to be got at in dimoult places of aocesa, thereby turning it into a useful commodity, rather than that it should lie and perish, no use to anybody, but the reverse—an obstacle and an eyesore. 1»m,*0., y SxvnaiiM.