FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 77

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

PROPOSALS CRITIC!SED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, August 13,

Several excerpts from the report of the Roval Commission on Forestry, attention to which- was directed in the chairman’s monthly report submitted to a meeting of the Westland County Council yesterday, were severely criticised by members of that body. . . The suggestion by the commissioner that the administration of timber lands should he removed from the control of the warden and wholly dealt with by the Land Board was vigorously combated. It was pointed out that such a recommendation was a r& flection on the court and that if the suggestion were adopted the public .would have no right of appeal as was at present the case.

Tiie Chairman (Mr Murdoch) mentioned that in all the centres of population on the Coast sittings of the court were held. Tin’s was, he declared, a great convenience to the public* and if the suggested new order of tilings came into operation the whole of the timber trails business would require to he dealt with by the Land Board, which met only once a month in Hokitika. Jf for no other reason for objecting to such a recommendation the matter of convenience to the public was of paramount importance. He considered that the commission had exceeded its duty in the matter and had gone beyond the scope of the purpose for which it had been set up. Cr Bruce remarked on the fact that the members of the commission merely visited the fringes of tlie timber areas iif the district. lie also declared that if an opportunity had been given to those in a position to adduce valuable evidence much useful information could have been gleaned by the commission in regard to matters concerning the timber lands of the West Coast.