DEPRESSED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 16

DEPRESSED.

TIMBER INDUSTRY. FOREIGN COMPETITION. [THE PBESS 8pecl»l Service.] WELLINGTON, January 20. The statements regarding the timber industry of the Dominion made by the Labour deputation, which asked the Government to appoint a iloyal Commission to enquire into the position and working of the industry from the standing bush to the consumer, were referred to Mr A. Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers' Association. '•Tho industry is certainly in a verydepressed state owing to the competition of foreign timbers," remarked Mr Seed. "Most of the statements made by the members of the Labour deputation are quite correct. The sawmillers are quite willing to submit their case to any Commission that may bo set up, but they consider that the enquiries how being made by the Government De- [ partments concerned, and the investigations' of the Tariff Commission will probably suffice to out all the points that it is necessary to consider. "If a broad view is taken regarding the industry and its importance and value to the community generally, the sawmillers feel that there can be no •doubt that tho Tariff Commission must recommend a more reasonable duty on imported timbers than that at present in operation, which dates back for well over 50 years."