NEW ZEALAND PINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1312, 15 December 1911, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PINE.

AUSTRALIAN TARIFF RATES.

REVISION EFFECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Oojrilflil (Rcc. December 11, 9.5 p.m.) Melbourne, December 14. The Federal Houso sat all night discussing the tariff. Tho proposal to admit New Zealand white pine undressed for butter boxes, in sizes not less than five feet 1/y threequarters of an inch, nor exceeding fourteen inches by 1 5-8 inches, but not cut to shapo, free, and timber, undressed, cut to size for boxmaking, at -Is. per hundred super feet, met with strong opposition. It was contended that it would seriously injure the ■ boxmaking trade and give the butter industry an advantage over fruit. Mr. Groom claimed that Queensland could supply ail the butter-box timber required. Mr. Deakin thought that a friendly spirit'might bo shown to Nety Zealand in this matter apart from tariff considerations. He favoured an imposition of 4s. on partly dressed timber, but New Zealand white pine was used as raw material for other industries which produced household necessities.

In the course of the discussion, Mr. Tudor suggested that white pine of any size should come in at sixpence per hundred super feet, and all other New Zealand pine should fall in at tho same rate as other timber. . The Ministry considered that New Zealand pine should not be treated differently to other timber. Apparently, however, the Government had knocked against one or two rested interests.

A COMPROMISE EFFECTED. (Rec. Decembor 11, 10.35 p.m.) Melbourne, December 11. A compromise suggested by Mr. Tudor, Minister for Trade aud Customs, making New Zeala.id white pine, undressed, n.e.i., dutiable at 6d. per 10(1 super feet, was adopted by the Federal House. This allows pine to come in for fruit as well as butter boxes.