[ Page 571 ]

The House met at 2 p.m.

The Hon. L.R. Peterson presented to Mr. Speaker a Message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, amendments to Bill (No. 15) intituled Jury Act.

On the motion of Mr. G.B. Gardom, Bill (No. 24) intituled An Act to Amend the Trust Companies Act was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on theOrders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

On the motion of Mr. D.G. Cocke, Bill (No. 25) intituled An Act to Amend the Insurance Act was introduced, read a first time, and Ordered to be placed on theOrders of the Day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

MR. SPEAKER: The Minister of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources.

HON. R.G. WILLISTON: Mr. Speaker, I ask leave of the House to introduce a motion, Motion No. 12, which appears on today's Orders of the Day, if the Members of the House will so give leave.

MR. SPEAKER: Shall leave be granted?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Aye.

MR. WILLISTON: Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable W.K. Kiernan, that this Motion be approved as spelled out in Motion No. 12 on the Order Paper.

That this House authorize the Select Standing Committee on Forestry and Fisheries to receive and study the following reports from the Forest Service:

1. Slash-burning in the Interior:
2. Damage to forest values by mining development:
3. Application of the 30 to 50 per cent contractor clauses in tree-farm licenses.

Also to consider and report to the House on the total management responsibilities of the quota holders within any sustained-yield unit which is being cut to the maximum allowable harvest under close utilization standards.

MR. SPEAKER: You have heard the Motion. All those in favour say Aye. The honourable the Leader of the — I'm sorry, the honourable the member for Cowichan-Malahat — long years of experience….(laughter)

MR. STRACHAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, old habits are sometimes hard to shake.

However, Mr. Speaker, I am supporting this particular resolution for a number of reasons. For one, we have recognized the limitations of the operation of the present forest industry. Many questions have been raised in the minds of the people about the efficacy of slash-burning or the necessity of slash-burning. I am sorry the Minister has limited the intent of this reference to the Committee of slash-burning only in the Interior, because I, myself, have had complaints about the effect of slash-burning in the Coastal areas also and I would like to hear from the Minister as to why he is limiting this investigation to slash-burning in the Interior.

With regard to the question of the damage to forest values by mining development, I am sorry that, again, he limited it to mining development, because there are other ways in which forest values can be depreciated.

The application of the 30 to 50 per cent contract clauses in tree farm licences should have been examined a long time ago, because under the terms of the agreements as they have been in the past, really, the contractor was not a free agent and the evidence indicated that very often the 30 to 50 per cent clauses, really, were only open insofar as the, second or third grade of timber was concerned. It wasn't a true opportunity for the small operator to get involved in the money-making end of the logging show. So it is a start in examining some pretty important issues. I am sorry there are these limitations on it, nevertheless, I support the reference.

MR. SPEAKER: Are you ready for the question? All those in favour say Aye. Contrary minded, No. The motion is carried.

Pursuant to Order, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

(Estimates of the Premier's Office)

At the hour of 6.05 p.m. the Chairman left the Chair.

The House met at 8 p.m.

Pursuant to Order, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of Supply.

(Estimates of the Premier's Office and the Department of Finance)

The Committee reported Resolution 2, and Resolutions 66 to 92 inclusive.

The House adjourned at 11:40 p.m.