TIMBER COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 517, 26 May 1909, Page 4

TIMBER COMMISSION.

YESTERDAY'S EVIDENCE, •.' • , — . \ VIEWS OF 'ARCHITECT, BUILDER, AND | FARMER. . i , The chairman (Hon. 'f. Y. Duncan, M.P.) < and all tho members of the Timber Commis- ! sion were again present at. their sittings in j the Dominion Museum yesterday.; Proceedings began at 9 a.m. and conoluded at 6 p.m. The examination of Alexander Campbell, ' builder, of Wellington, was continued. To Mr.'W.'Morris 1 : Oregon, if used for cottage building in place of heart matai, , saved 3s. to 4s. per 100 ft. Ho could not toll where the rimu camo from that-was used'in certain cottages, that were rotten after Ave years. Wellington seemed to be tho dumping ground for that class.of timber. '.': RIMU TOO GOOD FOR BUILDING. , Witness said Oregon timber had released a certain amount of heart rimu from building work, so that it could bo used for cabinetmaking. It seemed'a shamo to cover up some of the beautiful grained timber that ho had seen into. buildings in Wellington. , ~ Mr. Morris: Are you going to tell tho commission that buildings put up in Wellington prior to twelve months ago wore all built with inferior timber?— No. It was only be-, causo wo could not get tho quality required that wo had to use.Oregon. Prior to four or five years ago we had no difficulty in getting heart, joists.. , ,'..'■ Do j'ou think that when timber is wanted 75 per cent, heart a'merchant might say to tho miller, ."This lot must bo fairly, hearty," and would then pocket the difference in price between 75 per cent, heart and 0.8. ?—I suppose it could .bo done. Do j'ou know that our rimu is selling in Australia at 33 per cent.'more than.Oregon for building purposes ?—You must havo been sending them bettor timber than you send US. ■'■".'; . '.'..:'■ No, we don't pick it in any way. , < To .Mr. Ell:. He. thought an attempt should be niado to conserve 1 our native timbers until' the planted trees were ready. Mr. J. P. Maxwell, C.E., consulting engineer, said his experience was that rimu framing was quite suitable for use under plaster., It. should be seasoned.! To Mr. Field: Heart,rimu was not affected by dry rot, Tho Wellington Club was,built in 1877, and when opened a : year ago the, timber was as 1 sound.as.when it,was put in. :A similar state of ; affairs had,been found at ■ Mr. Boll's house' at Golder's Hill. Oregon pino was useful for long length's; but could not bo trusted'on the ground. It was not i' suitable f6r flooring; 0.8. rimu was 'better foK ■■: weather boarding. . It was .not correct that I rimu' could- not bo obtained. for' tho > Otaki ' Maori College, as the manager of a land and 1 timber company, in which witness was. in--1 terested had tried to. secure the: order for rimu, but found.that Oregon had 1 supplanted ] him.', Tho company had stopped milling— j partly owing to..Oregon , some of.tho land bad been sold for settlel ment, in which case tlio' bush would, bo r stroyed. '•"■' ■■'■'■•. ' , t To Mr. Barber: The company had been i operating at To Horo and Shannon. To Mr. Leyland: The company had had no J difficulty in filling orders for heart rimu. Tho difficulty had been to get tho orders. j Tho chief demand was for 0.8. ■ •' To Mr..'-/Arnold:'The Government should , plant largo areas of quick-growing trees. Ho f believed policy.of planting trees along f tho railways,, if land was available. ■, i' "; ; SOME FAULTS'OF OREGON PINE; : ' 1 I ■ Frederick de'J. Clere, architect, .Wellington, said' Oregon was wanted* and had been 1 of great advantage to tho community. Its t great length enabled architects'to construct o some works more cheaply. It' would wear a unevenly becauso the summer: .growth was . softer than the winter 'growth. This'unovcn- . ness of grain made'it unsuitable, for.shelving and table-tops. Heart rimu,was a splon- [.' , did timbcr,bnt-0.8. rimu, as at present sold; i- was of doubtful character. The outer part t of rimu, if left on the ground, decayed and o becamo spongy, but the heart would- last a lf very long time. Matai,'though a splendid 0 timber, took-so long to crow that it would be useless to plant it.' Ho had'counted tho J? .annual 'rings' on-a matai trco of 3ft. 1 dian meter,'and found that it. must, be 175 years old. ._v ■;.. :; ;..." :-..'';:.-. -:''-.,v v .''.-'■.',' f : HUTT VALLEY, FOR AFFORESTATION. 3- To Mr. W. H. P. Barber: Tho exhaustion it of the timber areas of the whole world was now within measurable distance. The grow-• ing scarcity of timber in. New Zealand was •j duo to the carelessness of Governments in n the past. It would'be an advantago to have 2 the tree-planting area's nearer tho : cities.

Some of the hills near Wellington, such as fi those on tho oast sido of tho Hutt Valley, li wero fit for practically nothing elso than o growing timber. - , ' . s To Mr. Morris: Anything that came to J this country at a low price must bo to tho V advantago of tho country.' The importation of Oregon permitted tho conservation of our native timbers. The New Zealand bush could probably bo saved from fire. Wo ehould be unablo to got Oregon after a few years, c Ho, did not think Oregon, had had much'to : 1 do with the slump in building, and 'there i were other causes for the depression in'saw- < milling. Oregon had probably mado little i or no difference to cottage buildinp;,' because i tho worst timber was always used for that. class of work. .'. •' ' ■■ s To Mr. Ell: It was a.mistake.on'the part 1 of tho Government to use totara for bridges and telegraph polos, as jarrah or some other i hard wood would answer tho purposes. To- ..' I tara should be economised on account of its very great valuo to the , woodworking ■, industry. Every scrap should bo saved, as it 1 could novor.bo replaced. . ~ . i THE. LOCAL BUILDING SLUMP. '■ / W. D. Murdoch, building Wpector to, tho ' Wellington City Council, gar'o tlio total\yal- ■ ues of buildings erected in Wellington in i recent years, as follow:— , ■ : '\ ■ , Year ending March 31.. £- ; ; ■ . ! ■ . .. 1904 343,024 > ■ . ' ':'■ ,1905 ..433,930: . ■'. ■: '. • ' "■ 190G 1......'........... 574,055 1907 557,540 ' , ' ■- 1008 ...■...,. 674,813' : 1909 433,100 '.■■- ■-■' There had thus been afalliug-off of £241,713 in tho last year.; Timber was less used! in big buildings than formerly, .'because concreto was now used largely.. ~'-..: , To Mr. Field: Plaster was coming to bo used outside, instead of weatherboards;" Itmado a good job, but cost a little mOro than weatherboarding. Tlio city authorities' allowed rimu ana kauri a breaking strain 20 per cent, greater than Oregon. . This allow-, anco was Tjased on experiments. ; The.bylaws provided that joists should not be : car-. ried over a greater span than 20.feet;; floor joists longer, than'-.20- feet; were,'.therefore,, not required. Baltic pine was largely .used in Wellington many years ago. It was similar to Oregon, and might be mistaken for.it by some people. -.- •'. ■■'■■"■:■..': '."' '' To Mr. Hanan:. Concrete sleepers wero used in Italy ■ and. elsewhere, and' would doubtless -. bo tried in New. Zealand. Timber.: was.;being used less and less .in building. Oregon would not.bo so readily obtained in New Zealand when tho Panama, Canal ! was completed, because it-would , then go: to tho Eastern States. Already.engineers of. the eastern cities of America wore looking to Oregon, creosotedj for 'wood-blocking. , .;. Goorgor Herbert Cliapman, Wellington agent-, for tho' West Coast -Timber. Trading Company, Gre-ymouth, said ■ that,. having baudled a large proportion of the West Coast rimu trado; in We'.lingtori, he had noticed that tho rimu orders fell off when tlie Oregon imports arrived. There-was'also a difficulty in getting, payment, because largo cash re-' mittaricos wcro sent away for Oregon tmiber. There was moro timber wasted, now than formerly, because the Oregon displaced certain classes-of timber., Ho had never had much trouble , about long lengths, and had never had to refuse any, orders for such lengths.. ■?■' ■ THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION. ; Continuing, aftor the luncheon':-adjoiirn-mentj'.Mr. Chapman said he did not see how tho building trado get along without ■ the merchants :■' -.'.;. . ; . '..'.-'■ >. : •. . Mr.B&rbor produced a typewi;itten form, which read: "I hereby apply to "have my '• name inserted in tho'' Builders' and Contrac- ; tors' special discount, list,' in consideration ' of which I asireo to confine niv purchases of timber'to members of the Wollinstoy Timber ■ Merchants' Association." This application i form was addressed to the Wcllinaton Timbor i Merchants' Association,, and .had. to'.be "re- ) commended, by -——' timber merchant." ' ■ ; Mr. Barber-also submitted ■ a letter' nd-; i dressed to a local firm," intimatinc-that-thoir ■ name had been deleted from the- Builders' ■ and Contractors', special ..discount: list. ;' • : .Tlio .following letter, signet! by tlio witness, r was also submitted by. Mr. Barber: — < : .;..■. ..!;;,:;'"-.; ;■' "22nd JuiK' wos. - ; ~ ■■■■,' . "U. F.:Marley, Secretary. : I ■';'■ ".Dedr Sir have information from Grey- [. 'mouth that Messrs. Manson and Tuck's agent has secured;* spaco for a considerable shipment of timber ms.s. Kaituna, duo hero , about this day week. As this mil form the second lot sentrby.this-firm,, which is nqnassociated'i I■-trust/you will take steps.to.in-sui-o our'common obligations being fulfilled. 1 Any assertion that Messrs. Manson and Tuok 3 aro Hawke's Bay millers is manifestly ab-, -■ surd, as far as their Greymouth: mill is con--3 corned: ; , They aro employing ah opposition 1 shipping arent in Groymouth, and; it is a highly improbable thoy: are paying dues to . any. association".'- You will thus sco>that the

first principle of.our association is being violated, and wo must ask you to boo that nono of our members tako delivery of any furthot supplies from these uon-associated millers.—" Yours, etc., G. H. Chapman, per C.A.B. 1 V'Tho Secretary, Timber Merchants' Association Wellington." NOT A. PARTY TO RAISING PRICES. AVitness Baid ho had never refußod ,an , order, except for financial reasons. The North Island millers had always claimed tJio right to supply anybody, but they made a • difference in prino to those they did not.know very well. There! was no combination to raise prices unduly. --~.' Mr. Barber produced a specification"_ to show that prices for-the timber in cottago building bad been unduly raised. Witness said his firm had hot been; a party. to any undue riso in prices. ■ ' A: SETTLER AND THE MILLERS. Charles Theodore Nordoll, farmer, .Eke-ta-huna, said tiia-t ho and other settlers had bad a bard struggle, but had pulled through with tho aid of tho sawmillers who,took -their., timber, and they were now fairly successful., The Forty-Mile Bush'ought not to have been settled until the timber had been milled. The. , ' couno that had been folltwcd had wasted vast; quantities of timber, and caused heavy oxponso to tho settlors.;; Mills were working ondoad logs. He know of one which was cutting loss that had.been;lying for 20 years. There was-distress among, tho sawmill handa owing to unemployment'. ..'.■• ;. ... ■•.•'■;■.-."; PAPER CURRENCY. ':.^.! Frank Thomas Moore,. of Johnsonvillo, recommended tho temporary; issuo of State > notes to case the stringency; of ( tho money..... market, further tariff\ protection' against...' Oregon pine, and reduced -railway rates foij - timber. At.the.King Country, mill in which ,'• ho was interested 0.8. totap was quoted at. Cs.on truck at tho mill, matai ss. 6d. Thia was cost price, tho profit being made, out of lioatt- timber. Ten shillings -por 100 ft. would bo a fair price for Q.B. timber, and the Government "should reduce freights' to. pnable tho timber, to ,bo sold at those figures. To Mr. Hanan ; : Eo- had not seen a statement in the Loudoli: "Times" . that Aus- ■, tr'alian-.'imports of Oregon had- docrcasedj' 17,500,00l)ft. as compared witfi the prcvioui year. Ho was surprised, , because - .-Australia!'. customers wero now using' Oregon instead o! whites .pino. Ho - thought /State , aawmilll could bo started. ;.- :■.''•:•}■..■'■ >;' ■' ■;'•.';•' ; . '■!' " : To Mr. Morris: Oregon was not wanted, '•■ at all. . Rimu could bo supplied up te 30ft. Ho considered tho- Government should give , preference' to ; tho' local timbers for railway sleepers. ' •; ~\ . ,'>'■''■'"■■': To the ' Chairman:' Tho reason .for the importation' of Oregon . was that people thought monopoly prices had been charged for local timber. \..v . ': '■';•■; '■';.;■ JINGiNBEHS.AIi'Ji'ECTEb BY THE ; : ' ■ ■;■;. ■'~•. ; SLUMP. , ■■■■■■ ,■■ .'.i ; -;;- '.-' David Robertson,, .engineer and ; maket of sawmill plant,■ said;tho slump in sawmiUhg. largely .''affected his business. He. had'not,', had a sawmill order this year, ' and many hands had been dismissed; Eo was surprised, to hear, that New Zealand timbers haa suddenly become bad. ißimu had .'stood' tests far better than. Oregon, which.began to give' way with very! small'prc&suro, and.cracked' from end to end..' Red pine stood twice .as much pressure.' It bent ..a ■■little,: but there was no crack' in it. Ho hoped t the Govern-; ment would givo local .'industries tho first ohanco to supply Requirements. New Zealand red pino could supply tho long lengths. The man who;; said Tinm would ; not Btand dij not'know .what ho ,was talking about. • '; : .' :To Mr.: Ell: Thoy ; should satisfy their do--maiids with native'-.! products, but .if they ' could get , something better at a.lower price; • ho would not have anyone debarred from t getting it. I .' Wo should put our industries • .iu such a.-state that outsiders would not try .. tocomo hero,. !.. : ;.. ■ ■•■ ,'.' .' another-Wellington' BDiLDER/ [•' Georgo Edward Humphries, builder, Wei- ' lmgtonj corroborated tho \ evidence of other ' builders as to tho necessity for the importation of Oregon. :' The. cheapness of Oregon '; here' was largely > duo ■■'.'to. depression, in; ■ America,' but that would pass away. -.., ■■•■ To Mr. Field: If New' Zealand millers had -. better machinery, and .'means' of transport," ■ tiipy could i- 1 market' , : their.' timber much t cheaper,'than at pre'sont; . It' would bo "bet- •■; ter to leavo the, duty on < Oregon at its pro- 1 ) sent figure and: \ tho commission , B\ expenses 3 could have been saved, as the trouble woild ■ soon be-over.- ': \- ,- ..■ .'■■ ( L, To Mr. Hanan: An , increased duty " on . Oiegon would 'benefit the sawniiUere;. but i to leave the duty as it was .'would be better - for, the public- If ,tlie millers could not -' compete with Oregon, under a' 20 por. cent. a duty, as at present,. thoy had better go out s. of business.'. ';.:.. ; v ■-. :.' ;. -..■"-. o Tho commission adjourried until 9 a.ui.' o to-day.; -,■'■'■■■ ;'■ ■ '■■'..■' : '■■■.■■"■ ';': ' ■■'■ ...