BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1930, Page 9

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

STATE FORESTRY POLICY

WITHDRAWAL OF SEVERAL AREAS. LAND SUITED FOR SETTLEMENT. By, Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. J. McCombs gave notice in the House of Representatives of' his intention to introduce the City of Christchurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Amendment Bill. Mr. J. Linklater asked the Minister of Internal Affairs whether the Government would consider increasing the dog registration fees on certain classes of dogs. Ho said that Alsatian dogs were increasing in numbers and their depredations among sheep were causing concern to farmers, It was felt that if registration fees were increased the number of these dogs would decrease... The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle said that so far there had been no opportunity to amend the Act, and it was not proposed to make any' alteration this session. He would make- a note of the question for future consideration. The Hon. E. A. Ransom moved that 17 areas of land varying in size from 2770 acres to 26 perches be withdrawn from th© permanent State forests. Mr. Coates said Mr. Ransom appeared to have established a record of withdrawals from State and provisional State forests. He asked whether this was being done because the land was more suitable for closer settlement than for forestry. The Hon. W. B. Taverner.: A lot of it should never have been included in the State forests! Mr. Coates asked whether the Government was satisfied all this land was suitable for closer settlement. f Mr. P. Fraser remarked - that there had been serious mistakes in the past. Land had been leased to forest companies that would have been more suitable for settlement, while on the other hand there had been attempts to place settlers- on land that was suitable for forestry only. . Mr. Taverner said most of the areas it was proposed to withdraw were small and of no use for afforestation,.and in most cases they were well adapted for settlement. It was the policy of the Government that where land could produce more if used for carrying sheep or stock it should be taken from the forestry reserves and held- for settlement. -

After further dfecuseion Mr., Ransom in jfeply said the-object underlying the withdrawals, was jto. promote settlement. It was Also intended to relieve property-owners of-the mpnace of ad-, joining land that haff “gone back” anff to improve .their-' boundaries. , . ; The motion was. adopted., , , . ;