TIMBER INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 10

TIMBER INDUSTRY

I INVESTIGATION WANTED, j '' 1 DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. [THE PEE3S Special Service.] WELLINGTON, January 19. A deputation from the Alliance of Labour, the New Zealand Trades and Labour Council's Federation, and the New Zealand Labour Party, urged representatives of the Government this ; • afternoon to set up immediately ; a , Royal Commission to enquire into' the position and working of the timber I industry of the Dominion. The Ministers approached were:—lhe Minister for Customs (Hon. Mr Downie , Stewart), the Minister fbr Industries and Commerce (Hon. Mr McLeod), and. the Minister in charge of the Forestry. Department (Hon. Mr Hawken). lhe Minister for Labour (Hon. Mr Anderson), and the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. Mr Bollard) were also : present. Messrs P. Fraser, M.P., and K. McKeen, M.P., accompanied • the deputation. : ■ It was suggested that the personnel, of the Commission should include ~ representatives of the timber workers, 6awmillers, building trade's, ' and industrial organisations. Lengthy draft proposals in connexion with the scope of the inquiry were presented ' asking for information in much' detail concerning the organisation of the industry in New Zealand, the capital invested, total wages paid, number of. nulls operating, profits and dividends, of' companies, stocks of timber at the mills and in yards, the detailed cost of production of imported timbers, actual landed cost, selling prices, etc. It was submitted that the_ present menace to. the industry _ might be largelv due to uneconomical and inefficient methods, as an enormous proportion of waste' between bush and the consumer was admitted •on all sides. The deputation asked for facts to be ' elicited so as <to enable waste to be -eliminated and reorganisation effected. . 'Mr W. Nash, secretary of the Labour Party, said the industry supported ■. about 30,000 workers. He alleged that dumping was taking place in New Zea- ' laiid. Timber could be produced in ' Canada, and U.S.A. for 7s Id per 100 feet, and taking the freight rate at 7s ; 6d per 100, it appeared that New Zealand could not hope to compete. The deputation was of opinion that the evidence on the subject and as to ' ihe cost of landing, etc., was so_ contradictory that a ■ Royal Commission should be set up at once to make investigation. It was imperative that : something should be done before the unemployment difficulty, already acute for this time of the year, .became more '.'. pronounced. It was stated that 5000 ! ! timber .workers .would be thrown idle uiiless importations ceased. ' Speaking on behalf of the building .trades, Mr Cornwell stressed the im- '. portance of the matter from the point of.Vview of the.cost,of building houses ' / Wd'meeting the housing problem. He aHuded to the "cost of trucking timber and urged that in addition to the proV' Josal .for th& setting up-, of •• a com- '• mission the Government should imV mediately look into'the question ofunemployment. He felt sure that many of i "tblie anomalies' ■•.in • the indusli'y could' be removed. ; . ;

' v •' S V ' Minister's Reply. '' .'Replying to the deputation,,. AJr '#ewirt' said' the Government realised the great importance of the problem affecting, the industry winch had : -been debated at length in the / House of .Representatives last year, I when the- proposals- for increases in • : duty on.timber were: Drought down. For sefnio; time'past the Government had-been collecting information; on •practically all the questions involved in ■ the representations made by the de- . r putation. He said ho had foreseen,? I wKeri.'it was agreed that the tariff: v Bhould be revised, that one of the big-, ■questions' that would loom lip was in 'connexion with the timber industry. '■" He had conferred with the Minister for Industries and Commerce and ; -the Minister in charge of the Forestry and they had agreed that -'; the question'was such a large one that , '.'; a'spwial investigation should be made , immediately^ '.r without waiting for;the . : acttial' sittings of the-tariff cbmmis- , fiion; • 'Officers "of' these' Departments, /therefore,; hid been working tfor'sorqe Oionths past*g&ihering all-the informa- ": , tion possible which primarily would-be .'.:'•' required iir.coijsidering the tariff. He '. reason wh.v v that informa- ::' -ti6n. ) shpuld ! . nbt ,be used for the pur-•Roie-«f„a, special, report ,on the broader : "aspects'of-.the-subject, apart from .The of the Commission as proposed by the deputa-. as comprehensections of the j community which* might also claim representation, importers for instance.

"^■'•'■v',-'•"■"" Departmental Experts. . ' The Minister said he had given much thought to the forn\ the Tariff Cominissipn should take,, and he, had realised' that from certain points of'vrtw there were advantages in haviner a sectional Commission;' He; *had come'to ■\ think/however, that more~satisfactory results could be achieved by-a Commission of Departmental experts thai) a'Commission such as was suggested. ' '•■ Experience with.< Commissions -in the obvious interests were thrown together ia. .fight developed/beUYeen; them,: each ;,• arguing his OWii standpoint: 1n'1921, .'• the .Government set up a Departmental ' Commission of Government officers who " had- no avowed political leaningsr-men accustomed-to studying the history of New Zealand industries —and the result 1 was that when the Commission: reported to the Bouse on each item that , up for the facts were Ilardfy'open to dispute. The tariff went •through with record ease, because there were no minority opinions or conflicting reports from the members of tie Commission. He therefore maintained that far more satisfactory re- : suits could be achieved from a nonpolittcal body than 1 from one. represent- , -mg. political interests. There was a .. difficulty that in setting up Commissions the Government encountered; no .helpful-criticism until after theipersonnel" was announced. It was practically „ impossible'to secure confidential information, by holding a. public 'enquiry, was certain that so fap-as tariff tnatters were concerned, the best" restiltscould he achieved by pursuing the* present policy.

■ ; :■';"- Economic.Survey. The ; Minister in charge, of the De--1 partment of Industries and Commerce <Hbn. Mr McLeod) said he thought a Commission would serve a very useful purpose, Ibut not constituted as suggested. An Economic Commission was 'required, and evidence could,be obtained from all sections affected. The largest field: of employers of labour was in the primary industry which could . hot', afford to pay the wages that the industry demnrded. He considered a Commission of three experts would be the best course to adopt. . • Mr Hawken also thought that an ■economic survey of the industry would lie the most desirable means of. inves r ** tijjation. He'said that in'America'the 'services of experts were solicited; The? ' went; into the economical aspect, and on their reports! decisions were made.

The layman was not capable of doing the work of an expert. Moreover, to get at the real facts, access must be had to confidential.information.

Mr Stewart said he would discuss the deputation's suggestion with his colleagues. GOVERNMJENT MILLS CLOSE. LOCAL PROTESTS. [THE PBES3 Special Service.] AUCKLAND, January 19. "The Government has decided to discontinue sawmilling operations in this district, and employees aro notified that their services will not be required after March 31st, 1927." The above notice has been posted at the State Sawmills at Mamaku, and with unemployment already rife in Auckland is- naturally causing the mill hands some concern. Auckland members of Parliament — Messrs Savage, Parry, Mason, and Lee—have sent the following telegram of protest to the Minister: —"Wo are advised that the Government proposes to close down the State mills at Mamaku. In view of the serious unemployment problem already existing and the fact that the State Mill must havo a steady offect on timlber prices as well as doing its share towards supplying a market which is now taking some of its supplies from American sources, we desire to record our protest against handing over the New. Zealand market to 'timber companies overseas while our own men are seeking employment. A conservative estimate of the unemployed in Auckland at present is about 1000, and we trust the Government, will move in this matter immediately."

INCREASED DUTIES. NOT FAVOURED IN AUCKLAND. [THE PRESS Special Sorrice.] AUCKLAND, January 19. The vexed question of protection of secondary industries by increased tariff duties caused a considerable discussion in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce a few months back. A motion passed at that time opposing the imposition of further duties was strongly resented by some of. the manufacturing interests. At a subsequent meeting a compromise suggestion was adopted, whereby a committee was appointed to obtain further information and report.

The Committee resolved that as the prosperity "of New Zealand' depends mainly upon an. increased primary production any chango in Customs, tariffs which would tend to increase the cost of production should be avoided. The Chamber has decided to forward the resolution to, the Tariff Commission at present sitting in Auckland,. and that the president be asked to present it.

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

RETURNS FOR AUCKLAND. [THE PRESS Special Service.] : AUCKLAND, January 19. , Cheques for a Bum totalling approximately £886,000 will be distributed among dairy-farmers of the Auckland province to-morrow, the total representing the amount-that -will, be advanced against'butter aid cheese received into the grading store at Auckland during December. The amount is about £40,000 less than the total distributed on January 20th of last year, when prices-for New Zealand dairy produce'were 1 higher than those now ruling.. "' ''•,.;'■

FERTILISERS. PRICE REDUCTIONS. v [THE PRESS Special. Service.] . '; ■ ? . WELLINGTON; January 19. - it-is stated to-day that,-the>substan-tial reduction in the North of prices for fertilisers, approximately 13s b'd per ton, foreshadows early and substantial reductions in the South Island. WAIMATE MARKET. A REVIEW. Very little business was done in the stock market' during last week. ■ There is, however, a demand, but prices, aro considered too high,-and most, of the "business is restricted to'farmers of a speculative turn of ( mind. Enquiry,has> been made for. lambs, , and sales? have; taken .'place for. fat lambs in forward . condition at'from 22s 6d to 235. Wethers command -only a Blight enquiry, prices quoted being 18a to 20s, but sales have been nil: A few sales have taken i -place for tWo-tooth vewes at from 28e to ' 31sy and 34s was obtained for a line of extra . good halfbreds. Tha most popular sellers are still aged ewes, with lambs at foot, especially, those in. forward condition, and ISs 6d to 17s 6d is being obtained for them. ■ Store sheep are not coming forward freely ' owing to. the excessive prices asked by farmers, but'once business in' the yards establishes the price, more business will be done. Prices from 17s to 18s 6d -are being asked for station lines, of halfbred wether; lambs, , but buyers will not exceed 15s 6d to' 16s. . There is enquiry for sound-mouthed ewes for ; March. delivery,, but sales 'are'not being made, owing to a. difference'in buyers' and sellers' prices of from,2s to 2s 6d. This is also the case in regard to present prices-of ' .sound-mouthed ewes, which are '. being quoted at 30s, buyers being reluctant to go over 27s 6d to 28s.' However, buyers'may be compelled, to :exceed' their present prices a little later,- as, when more lambs have.been sent to the factory, the abundance of feed will require all the available stock. There was a yarding of 773 fats and 95 stores at the Waihao Forks sale, yesterday, * all being .disposed, of at.auction. The quality wbb good) and prices were maintained. The following are priceS:— Fat: Lambs—69 at 265, 40 at. 26s Id, 132 at 26s 9d, 63 at 35s 6d, 166-at 3*!, 38 at 27s Id, 11-at" 265, lat 20s, 47 at.26r.5d, 45 at. 245, 53 at 27s 3d. ,\ • , , ;.■ ' . Wethers—9 at-,23s ,2d.„ Fat Ewe's—s at'lss 4d, 16 at 14s 9d. 18 at 16s 7fl: 37i ! at 16s ;4d, 'lO at 16s 6d, sat 13s, 8 at 16s ; 3d: /'. ' S ' five-year halfbred' owes 245, 45 ewes 17s 6d, 9 two-tooth wethers 22s !?d. . ' WHEAT CONFERENCE. A. AND P. DELEGATES. At a meeting of the General Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association yesterday, Messrs H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., and J. O. Coop were elected, on the motion of Mr J. D. Hall, the Association's delegates to the conference , of wheat-growers, to be held in Ashburj ton, for the purpose of discussing the wheat question.