THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

IMPORTATION OF OREGON. SHOULD THERE BE A LARGER DUTY? Whon the Houso resumed yesterday, The Hon G. JfOWLDS (Minister 'for Curtoms) presented a return asked for by Mr. Seddon (Westland) relative to the importation of Oregon pine into the Dominion for the period January 1, 1909, to June 30, 1010. It showed that the numbers of laths and shingles lauded during that period at various ports woro:—Auckland, 278,460.; Gisborno, 18,000; Wellington, 332,500; Lyttolton, 1,080,010; Timaru, 139,415; Dunedin, 329,550; total, 2,177,935.- Tho superficial feet of sawn dressed timber imported during April, 1909, and April, 1910, were:—Auckland, 8818; Xclson, -16G; Christchurch, 23,400; JotaL 3i,381, No sawn, dressed timber

was imported during the other months. The number of superficial feet of sawn undressed timber was as follows:—Auckland, 2,580,928; Gisborne, 1229; Wellington, 2,734,721; Napier, 508,731; Nelson, 38; Lyttelton, 483,529; Oamaru, 42,139; Dunedin, 1,157,638; Invercargill, 27,502; iotal, 9,788,994. There were no importations of Oregon palings, round logs, and hewn logs. • Mr. Smith Advocates Duty. Mr. SMITH (Rangitikei), in moving that the. paper be printed, said ho thought 'that the Government should have done more to encourage tho industry long ago. Sir Joseph: We must consider tho matter. Mr. Smith: But too long can be taken over the consideration of tho matter. Continuing his remarks, Mr. Smith said that when he had stated last week that this industry employed more hands than any other which worked the products of the country, his statement was poohpoohed. He hail since satisfied himself that this was the case. Last year there were 4-44 mills in operation, employing a total of 9111 hands, and the wages paid last year totalled .£834,927.. Mr. Davey: What have you included in tho timber industry? Mr. Smith: Sawmill and sash and door workers. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds at this- stage raised the point that only the Minister in chargo of the document could move that it be printed. Tho Speaker: That is so. Mr. Smith: Then I will ask the Minister to do so. • Mr. Fowlds: I will agree. Mr. Smith declared that tho railway freights on timber were too high. Chaff, for instance, Was carried 202 miles for 10s. lid. per ton, whilst brown coal was carried tho same distance for 9s. 10d., but the figuro in regard to timber for that distance was 17s. 3d. per ton. He regretted that thero had been no tangible result to the report of the Timber Commission. If the duty on Oregon pine was not increased sawmilling would stop in New Zealand. If the industry w:ere properly encouraged, tho timber along the Main Trunk lino would pay the cost .of its construction. .He also stated ■ that as a concession was given in railway freights from Patarafu a similar. concession should bo given to other districts. Mr. Seddon on the Problem. Mr. SEDDON (Westland) stated thattho return showed that tho quantity of imported timber was not decreasing as peoplo said it would. As regards the cargo on tho Century, he had never stated that.it was to be landed in New Zealand. So far no good had como of the work of tho Royal Commission. Oregon pine did not come from Canada, but from Puget Sound, which was in the United States. It. was cheaper to carry timber from Puget Sound to New Zealand than from Greymouth, for instance, to any distributing port in the Dominion, Tho commission did wrong in recommending that pieces over 35 feet in length shouldbe admitted free. Views of Mr. Massey. Mr. MASSEY, Leader of tho Opposition, said that members representing sawmilling districts had good ground for complaint, seeing that nothing had been done to give effect to the report of tho Timber Commission. -There had not been the slightest attempt to allow Parliament to discuss the report. • This commission must have cost several thousands of pounds. Ho thought it was tho right thing for the commission to have been appointed. What was tho use of that or any other commission, however, if no opportunity was given for a discussion upon it in Parliament? If a concession as regards freight was being given in any district it should be given in all other districts. .' ' Statement by the Prime Minister. The PRIME MINISTER said he believed that everything possible should bo douo to help the industry. He might point out that when the report came down tho sawmillers declared that they did not want it adopted : as. a whole. They asked tho Government to do nothing rather than give effect to it. Ho wished to point out to members that the importation of Oregon timber had been beneficial. Mr. Seddon: To the building industries. Sir Joseph went on to emphasiso the diversity of opinion on the question of duty on imported timber. There was nothing liko so much Oregon coming into New Zealand as previously. Ho was satisfied that tho Houso would carry tho recommendation of tho commission in the matter of Oregon, with tho object of keeping down the price of timber. A majority of the members, he felt convinced, wished peoplo to have an opportunity To build as cheaply as possible. As regards timber rates on tho railways, they had to be dealt with on their merits. The con-, cession in this regard, as far as Patararu was concerned, 'was given in .order to bring that place into line with Manakau and other places from which thero was water competition. Mr. Massey: You are out of your depth. . -. , Mr. Smith: There is no need for the concession now that the Main Trunk lino is completed. Sir Joseph: Well, I can assure you that no favouritism is being shown. - Mr. BROWN (Napier) said that it was all right for the position of tho millers to be. put forward. It had to be remembered that if timber became a prohibitive price, it would mean a loss of business ror artisans,. etc. Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Christchurch North) said he felt suro that tho country would not stand a further increase in tho price of timber. The House and tho country would welcome further activity in regard to afforestation. Speech by Mr. Fie.ld. Mr. FIELD (Otaki) pointed out that the report was not as a whole satisfactory to any one member of Hhe commission. Last session the Premier promised to givo effect to tho spirit of the report. It was hoped by the commission that tho Government would protect tho timber industry against rosawing of largepieces of imported timber upon arrival, here. The members of the "commission were satisfied that building timber could be produced, as cheaply in New Zealand as Oregon pine could bo imported. All the. sawmillers in his district'were practically poor men. It was found that the charges of "combines" of merchants" had largely fallen to. the ground. If there was a slump in the .timber market in America again, New Zealand would again become a dumping-ground for Oregon. The industry could be protected withont adding to the cost of building houses. ' Mr. JENNINGS (Taumarunui), who was also a member of the commission, declared that the report was' of great value. The cost, ,£3175, was not by any means out of tho way. It would have been impossible for a committeo of experts to have'produced a better renort. Mr. HOGAN"(Wanganui) did not" 'scci why there was so much fuss over Oregon pine. The importation of Oregon, had amounted to only nine million feot, as. against 500 million feet produced locally. Care should bo taken not to over-protect any industry. It appeared that the millers missed no opportunity to raise the prices. Ho hoped the House would havo another opportunity to discuss the report. Mr. Jennings: I hope not. (Laughter.) Mr. LATJRENSON (Lyttelton) declared that the feeling of the country was to wi'dc off the duty on Oregon pine. The debate at this stage had to' beadjourned.