BOOSTING TIMBER INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1946, Page 7

BOOSTING TIMBER INDUSTRY

-Press Association

: MINISTER SPEAKS OF HOUSING " •* SCHEME .

By Telegraph-

' WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. Government approval has been given to the building'of. Jemountahle housot> for timber workefs^ They will have the necessary amenities for the modeni . hoilsewife and will enablo sawmillers lo move with the greatest possible spee.il to new areas._ .......... f,it This is one of several measures planhed to ; attract' men lo Tlie timbOi indust'ry yvhich, -thdugh- • vital .S;tQ tht . country 's building . .progr.amme, .-.has . languished through lack of labour, , If Government approval. is given lo the reconimendation of the Timber Ad' visory Committee, higlier wagcs will Uv paid timber-. wprkers- as part of thc eft'ort to abtract labour. This .proposal involves eorre.qponding increascs i u tini ber prices. ' .' ' ' Detailed plahs were dischssed by 'the Commis'sioner of State: Forests, llon. -C. A. Skinner, in an address to.the annuat conferenee of the Dominion Fedcrated Sawmillers' Asspciation which endqu today. Mr. Skinner said thiit 'tln means of achieving the maxim'uii) production of indigenous timber had been exhaustively :studied" by the j.-advisor . ! committee which had reaehed the eon clusion that the "status' of the industr\ must be.improved to attract more mai) power into the mills and. bush work MThe shortage of labour is the greatesi single handicap now facing the indus try," he said. 4 'The Timber Frodue t'ion Advisory Committee has submitted a strong recommendation to the Govern ment advocating a general iihprovement in the wage levels of timber . wbrkers which, it is c.oniident, will pro.vide an incentive to men to engage in .aawmill and bush work. The committee's re commendation also providys. for tlie automatic passing on in prices, of any wage increases so granted. .This r'ecoin mendation is now before the Govern ment for consideration. The Govern ment also beiieves that a system of organised ..trade training , would ma teriaily assi'st in attra^ting Jabour into the industry. - . - "It is pleasing to* reeord.. that tlie timber industry accommodation improvement sclieme has now received tln* appToval of the Government and onee , the demonstration unit being erected' jhas received the approval of the Timber Production Advisory Committee, tend ers will be immediat.ely let for at least 50 houses. They are of tlie demountable

t\-pe and provide the necessary ameni ties fequired by today 's housewife. It will also mean that the millers -caii mov6 to new bush areas at the greaiest possible spoed and with the least possible loss of produetion. The aetual c-ost of moving the houses .w-ill not be paid by the sawmillers but will be carried by the pool. It is the intention of the Government to increase .all timber prices by 6d net. To euable this amount to be paid by the, sawiniljors. a pool Will be bperAted. The schertic for the eollection of the levy will be under the control of the iState Advances Corporation. The Timber Protluetibii ' Advisory Committee will be the authority foj deciding the, priority;pf applications made for houses."