Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1920, Page 2

Grey River Argus and BlacKball news.

Deliverrtt every morning in Greyjnouth, Eninnra, Hokitika, Dobson, Wallseud, Taylorvills, Crouaduu t Ngiihere, BiackbiilV, NelsolT Creek, Brimnsr, I'eKingha, Eotomanu, P v -._-im, lucitbouuie, Patara, Burn, Kaimata, Kotnku. "!:oaiia, Avatikn, Bmiaupa, Dunollie, Cobdeu, Bj....av's, Kokiri, Abaum, Iliainntua, Stillwatcr. Waiuta, aud Kecftou, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1920. i 1

THE FORESTRY QUESTION.

Returning to its hostile criticism of tho Forestry Department, and of its policy, our Hokitika contemporary, in an endeavour doubtless to add weight to its own remarks, recalls some of ours that were made when the' new departure was first intimated. ' "From these, it. would suggest that in the menn•me our attitude towards the now department Ims somewhat altered, a misapprehension which we must correct, it says we referred to the profossod policy of the Minister (Sir F. Bell) at that time as being a menace to the West Coast timber industry, and to the interests of the mill 'workers and watcrsidcrs and others engaged in it all over the West Coast. And rightly so. Because the intention expressed at the time by the Minister was to limit drastically the timber exports from the Dominion! In recalling only our criticism of the Minister's attitude, our contemporary really detracts from its own case, rather than advances it, because in the meantime it is not our altitude that has changed, but thnt of the Minister. With a lack of diplomacy, Sir'F. 801 l made tho announcement of the new forestry policy* the occasion for the threat in question. Doubtless the idea of conserving our timber resources wtrs the gpvcnr'ng one in his mind, and one means that first suggested itself to him to achieve his object was a limitation of exports. That he was in error seemed evident to us for various reasons. Firstly, very much of the timber exported from this country to Australia goes from here so that the prohibition proposed would have affected the West Coast more ad versely than perhaps any other part of the country, as it might have .meant si reduction in production; and, in up holding tho new department, we do so in the belief that it will prolong and in crease, rather than limit, production AYe also remarked then, as we think still, that to give the world's parity to the producers of butter, wool, meat and other commodities, while restricting the market of the timber producers, would be a grossly unfair, policy, and in the circumstances existing, : jKirticular injustice to the West Coast, where the millers depend largely upon the Australian market. It would mean -penalising this locality for the benefit of other districts and retarding the local timber industry in order to promote prosperous industries in other localities. In short, we believed that to provide cheap butter boxes for Taranaki patriots, whose main aim in life is to annex the world's parity, was nc justification foivhampering West Coast industry. However, us the new department has since had an opportunity tf demonstrate that its policy is a positive one of development, aud not 1 negative one of stagnation, avc have acknoAvlcdged its claims to fair eon si deration any little- encouragement which avc could give it. " We think that our contemporary must; be opposed to the forestry policy for quite other reasons than those which mover us to oppose any limitation of produc lion nnd exportation. Otherwise, •w( should hardly expectyto. see it lament'

ing that people outside the West Coast will be called upon to pay something ) towards timber conservation upon the West Coast. If this locality is to be a source of timber supply for other places that lack timber, then those localities are morally bound to contribute towaTds the cost of conserving the supplies here. Seeing that there has been no limitation of export such as would mean a hardship* to anyone; that the demand for timber exceeds the supply even in the Dominion; that the forests are rapidly being depleted; that the national timber assets are public property for which the public, in alienating them, should receive some adequate return from those who make line profits from exploiting them; that the value of timber is becoming greater; that the new policy will mean providing small milling areas for men of small capital; that it will make the milling industry a stable and lasting one, and; likewise the timber supply; that there is much money belonging rightly to the community being made out of our timber lands by speculators who do not produce but merely exploit our defective land laws: that the new departure will enable the State to secure this money by its retaining possession of timber areas until they arc taken up by the actual miller; that the department will see the forests are cut properly; 'that it will prevent waste, and plant for futurity; that it will . train its own experts; that it will pro- t bably introduce eventually State saw-, mills; and see to a proper roading policy in forest areas; that it will advance , settlement by demarcating the suitable ] areas from the unsuitable ones; that „ it will be a self-supporting venture after a few years; and that the country generally is quite ready to pay for all the above advantages by giving the department a proper start, we fail to sec the reason for the hostile criticism. Why not criticise the Agricultural Department, or the Education Department, or the Defence Department, for expenditure they require? What we hope is that the Forestry Department will lose no time in getting to work, and in utilising the money now avail-able-for that purpose. The sooner it comes to close grips with its great task, the better it will be for the country. To say it will i«e:m a financial loss, rather than a gain, is simply to camouflage the fact that the depiction and destruction of our forests, if allowed to proceed, avouM firstly increase the price of timber greatly, would then limit the supply, and would finally leave the oountry without any. f