THE MILLING QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 11

THE MILLING QUESTION

O^E TENDEK ACCEPTED c BUT NO POLICY The • long drawn-out controversy' regarding the decision of the Water Board *-o grant milling rights. over an area of a hundred odd acres in^the Akatarawa and the rights and wrongs of the action of the Oity Council in confirming that decision has'been closed by the defeating of. Councillor Semple's motion 'Jjat'no milling rights'should be granted in the board's area. Councillor Semplp contended that the council s attitude should go a long way in shaping the policy of the board.-The amount which would be derived from royalties ou timbor could never,-in his opinion, compensate for the'damage done to.the bush; the fii'o risk-would be greatlyincreased and stream's would be polluted. The people of Wellington would never favour a milling policy. ; ' Councillor J. Aston strongly supported Councillor Semple's views. j : The Mayor said that there was an obligation in that. particular case, } as negotiations had been in train with the Government prior to the handing over, of the lands to the board. No more cutting rights would be granted until a report had been receivod from the" board's forestry officer. The board, said ,Councillor M'Keen, was' actuated by' commercial motives. He had visited parts of the /watershed area recently, and had been shocked to see what vandalism was going on. Councillors Mitchell and Luckie said that they thought -it would be wise to wait till the Forestry 'Officer's report was received. - . . : Even .though fifty officers might recommend the destruction of the bush, :said Councillor Sem'ple, he would not vote'for it. He wanted the council to give its representatives ' upon the board a mandate as to htfw to vote when the question came up,.but if the council asked him to support a policy which he was satisfied was wrong, he would resign his seat on the board.rather than vote for it. . The motion was defeated by one vote, 8 to' 7., Thus,. though tho particular case is disposed.of, the main question of whether the general policy should include the letting of milling rights has still to be, considered. The annual report of the council .of the New Zealand Forestry League con-, tains the following reference to the milling question: "Your council is pleased to report that tho Government has handed over to a Water Conservation. Board some thousands of acres of land, ■on the upper reaches pf the Hutt and tributary rivers. -A board lias been set up with control of this area, and a forest officer has boon appointed and working plans are boing drawn up. Your co'incil,. however, from the discus-1 sions of that- board, considers it likely that the question of finance will lead to. the milling of certain portions of the bush, and a,.lengthy letter was submitted to tho chairman of the board (the Mayor of Wellington), and a reply, was given that after consideration, the lettor was received. Wnqt effect tho letter had cannot bo stated, but in order to safeguard the matter,, a copy of the letter was scjit to the Minister with the request that he givo careful consideration to the matter when a working plan is submitted to him. Your f council is hopeful that, the Minister will exercise a restraining'influence .should tlio working plan show a proposal to mill any part of this area."