TIMBER AND FLAX ROYALTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 May 1906, Page 2

TIMBER AND FLAX ROYALTIES

At the meeting of the Grey County Council yesterday afternoon, consideraule discussion ensued over a letter forwarded by the Department of Lands and Survey, showing amounts accrued to the credit of the Council up to March 31st last, and intimating that payments of the amounts would bo made on May Ist. The Council was asked to have their proposals for expenditure approved in time for the meeting of the Land Board on April 18ili. The accrued halves in respect tu timber were as follows:

The Clerk (Air M. Phillips) stated that according to a Parliamentary return the royalties collected in the provincial district of Westland on timber for the year ended Alarch 31st 1905, was £11,794 12s 8d and from llax £166 18s 4d, making a total of £11,961 10s. He considered that twothirds of this amount was from- the Grey County, and ho held they should get a larger share of the money. ■Cr Hargreaves said that, assuming the statement given was correct, the revenue had dropped from £II,OOO to £2OOO.

The Clerk said that was impossible as the output was increasing every year.

On Cr Hannan’s suggestion, Cr Hargreaves moved; That the Department bo asked to give details and to explain the apparent falling off in the revenue from timber and flax royalties.

The Clerk said that the County Clerk of Westland was of opinion that the Department was deducting salaries of the Commissioner of. Hangers’ and rangers’ expenses from amounts due to County Councils. Mr T. F. Martin had given a legal opinion to the effect that such deductions were not legal. Cr Marshall said the proposal of tho Department would have a very serious effect on their finances. When the measure was passed they fully expected to receive £3OOO under it; but according to the Department's statement it meant that they would only got about. £IOOO per annum. It was undoubted that tho Act provided for half of tho royalty going to County Councils and the other half to the Department for expenses. Tho output in timber in the district was increasing and some steps should be taken whereby they would be able to protect their revenue. The motion was, after further discussion, carried.

Aliaura .... . £133 15 4 Mawheranui . . . 24 13 6 Brunner . . . 4 19 7 Arnold .... 6 Cobdeu .... 6 7 0 To King, 1 . . . 2 7 6 Waiwhero . . . 33 8 Waheraiti . . , 6 0 0 Givyinoulh . . 6 0 0 Total .... . £138 ~3 9 Tlie thirds accrued in respect to llax royalty were: — Brunner . . £1 13 3 Kuuanga . . . 78 4 4 llohouu .... 9 11 3 Cobdeu .... 4 6 1 Waiwhero . . . 1 2 5 Haupiri .... 8 5 0 Mawheraiti . . 3 1 3 Utira 2 8 2 Ah aura .... 4 2 2 Tnriwhafe . . . 2 19 8 Kopara .... 21 8 1 Teroinakau . . 1 2 1 Total .... £138 3 9 Gross Total . . £704 18 10