THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Morning. Nelson, Thursday, March 23, 1905. ROYALTIES TO LOCAL BODIES.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11288, 23 March 1905, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily-Morning. Nelson, Thursday, March 23, 1905. ROYALTIES TO LOCAL BODIES.

'Speaking at Kati'kati^the Premier stated that the Government intended to give the whole of the flax and timber royalties to Local Bodies, and he also promised to favorably febnatder a request for bridges o ! h the County roads. It must be admitted that the problem of finding adequate means to enable Local Bodies to construct roads and bridges in sparsley populated districts 'ib one of considerable difficulty, *and a good deal may be urged in favor of handing over royalties for the purpose. The carting of timber and of flax involves considerable wear and tear on existing roads, and also in many cases necessitates the construction of further roads. It sometimes happens too, that as soon $& the timber or flax is cut fend disposed of, rbads tofcstrucled for their removal, fall practically into disuse, while their upkeep becomes a burden which the people in the settled districts have to bear. It may be urged that the residents of the localities wherein flax and timber royalties are collected derive benefit by the utilization of the flax and timber, which requires labor in different fdrm, and that therefore they should contribute tb the construction and maintenance of roads, etc. ; but if royalties from flax and timber are to be handed over to Ldcal Bod^gy why should not the rents from mineral leases be similarly devoted? The 'danger is that] if this system is gradually followed, it may lead to revenue being allocated for expenditure only in the locality wherein it is collected, and this Would mean that some districts would have more than they needed, and would be led into an extravagant scatter cash practice, while other localities would be without the means for providing absolute necessities. Under such condition-, the diMculties in the way of developing new and isolated localities would be considerably intensified, funds for the construction of roads could>ot be looked for until royalties or rents were paid, and in many cases there would be little inducement to incur considerable outlay before roads were constructed, and consequently Wb receipts from royalties wouid be infinitesimal.

The fairer and better way would be for the requirements of each dis trict to be carefully ascertained, and money allocated to meet requirements and encourage development. If Local Bodies are only given royalties or rents up to the amount of their actual necessities, and all Local Bodies are given reasonable assistance, there may be no cause to find fault, but it is necessary to guard against one part of the Colony being starved, and another being given more than sufficient for its needs.