PRICES OF TIMBER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1890, 27 October 1913, Page 6

PRICES OF TIMBER

A COMPARISON WITH WAGES.

A return in regard to tho average in« • creases in thfl p-ricos of kauri timber.* and also timlier-workers' wages in the' . northern industrial district miring' the > last twelvo years, which was recently; ordered on tho motion of Mr. Coatcs [ (Kaipara), was laid on the table of _tb.<? Houso of Representatives by the Prima 5 Minister. r Tho return shows that the prices of , kauri advanced as follows during thd period mentioned, ■ . First" ' Second | class, medium, class. s. s. d. s. d. , June, 1901 15 12 0 0 0 Dec.., 1910 24 ' 18 6 ■ 12 0 ; •, 1912 -26 19, 6 12 0 f Increaso since 1901Firet-clnes, i 60 2-3 per font.; medium, 66 per cont. { I second-class, 20 1-3 pel* ceiit. 1 Tlio figurps for 1901 and 1910 ar<3> taken from.'tho report of tlio Auckland Commissioner of CroWi-i Lands 5n 1911. , The figures for 1912 are taken from tho evidence given before tho Cost of Living Commission by Mr. W: B. Ley land. ■ Tho rotvirn states that no information is available ill regard to the prieos of rimu and totara for tho same period. The figures given in regard to timber workers wages show that tlio minimum rates under awards have increased sino9 1902 by approximately sixpence per diiy or 6} per cent. In giving ovidenee before tlio Cost) of Living Commission last year, Mr.Leyland stated that the increase in tho wages actually paid in tho last six years to 76 men and boys at his town mill in Auckland was. £57 per week, or 41 per cent. His bush wages ten years ago ranged from £1 15s. to £2 Cs. per week and found (10s.), whilst ill IDI2F they rangod from £2 17s. 6d. to £3 10b. jnd found (£1). This showed an increase of from £1 2s. Cd. to £1 ss. por week and found (10s.), oqual to -67J pep cent.