TIMBER RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 144, 20 June 1928, Page 14

TIMBER RIGHTS

WATER BOARD LEASES ' HUTT RIVER ENVIRONS BIG FUTURE VALUES While members of the City and Suburban Water Supply Board were seized of tlie importance of the reafforestation of the hills of the Hutt watershed as soon as possible, a suggestion by Mr. W. T. Strand to the meeting of the board this morning, in regard to cooperation in regard to a certain area at Kaitokc, the property of the Water Board, was viewed from several angles, not all in sympathy with the proposal. The Hutt River Board wrote that it Was considering tree-planting on a more extensive scale, and asked the Water Board to receive a suggestion in regard to the leasing of 5000 acres east of Kaitoke. Mr. .W. T. Strand said lie had been authorised to ask for the board's, attitude on this proposal. The Act provided for contributions to reafforestation by river boards. The matter had been tho subject of frequent consideration by the Hutt River Board, and there was a general, desird to do something in that way. The value, and, indeed, immediate' need, for covering the hills' was fully recognised from the point of view of protection of,the'river. He would like to have some arrangement come to by which the River Board could have some thousands of acres to plant. If the Hutt River Board contributed to the funds of the Water Board some financial arrangement must be possible, between the bodies. The River Board had thought it might 'be desirable for some, portion of the already denuded country to bo handed over on. certain conditions to tho Ri-ver Board to re-afforest, the x growth there to be perhaps the property of the River Board. It might save adjustments in financial contributions, a matter that could be .considered by tlie Water Board. He felt sure they could work hand in hand. -under ihc officers and with the experience of the Water Board to guide them, / Tho chairman (Mi. G. A. Troup): "It means in effect that-this board would be handing over 5000 acres of freehold to the River Board. We to hand over the planting of the trees, the profits to be yours.", Mr. Strand: "That-is a point that will have to be considered. We only wish to see if it is possible for the two boards to work together. It is" just a question of what is the better moans of attaining that end." The Chairman: "You do not make it a stipulation that the forest shall be for your own use?" Mr. Strand: "That is for consideration only. Members of the River Board have faith in the planting of those hills. We believe it will bring in a revenue that it is not considered possible to bring in from the hills otherwise." . - • ■-Mr. J M'Kenzie (Eetone) .thought the board should be very careful before it. gave anything away. It should bo thoroughly advised by its own officers. The board could plant the trees itself, and had an officer to direct all operations. Any other board that wanted to come in was probably looking to its own interests from a financial point of view It would in any case be of advantage to the Hutt Valley. The board should not give, its rights away to another, board. Mr HA. Huggins thought tho Water Board should retain full control of tlie land, but agreed that some form of co-operation mjght prove beneficial. «. , J?; E^ bei'tson (Upper Hutt) thought Mr. Strand was right except in the matter of profits. He agreed with the Mayor of Petone that the rights of the Water Board should be conserved primarily, but if it could get-'the planting done by the River Board all the better. Was the prospective planting' looked on as.a. commercial investment by the River Board? It was a wealthy body, and there was plenty of land -it could purchase, but at should not be allowed to operate at the expense of the Water Board. Mr. Strand said that the co-operation of the Water ' Board was certainly sought, but the Rivor Board was a public body, and there must be some financial arrangement. Their, anxiety to see the work started was behind their suggestion. If. the Water Board was not going to do the work the River Board was prepared/to make arrangements to do it. There was no thought of taking the freehold from the Water Board/but some arrangement must be made before sums of money could bo handed over to the Water Board, Mr. M'Kenzie: "We have appointed our forestry-officer. We do not want the River Board to come in and control any portion of our reserves." The Mayor said they should examine the proposal sympathetically and in a manner that would lead to mutual benefit. The area mentioned was very suit : able for tree planting, and he saw no j objection to leasing it for a short or a long term; but conditions should be inserted, in the lease' that • tho whole of the trees should become tho property of the Water Board. The Hutt River watershed;needed reafforestation immc/ diately, and the board no doubt wanted to expedite it,-and to see afforestation carried out to a greater extent than the Water Board, could undertake. The River Board would be securing a decided advantage, of which they must be aware. If the Water Board had' no lands, then the River Board would bo looking for lands for which it would have to pay. A lease for nothing, with all tho profits, would simply mean giving the River Board lauds for which it would otherwise have to pay. Tho value of tho area in forty years' time could not be overlooked, nor could future revenue be given away. It was eventually decided that the Mayor and Mr. Strand should confer and report to the Water Board.