SAWMILL INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2340, 23 December 1914, Page 3

SAWMILL INDUSTRY

SEEKS PROTECTION DURING CURRENCY OF WAR A deputation representing the sawmillers throughout New Zealand waited on tlio Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) and the AttorneyGeneral (the Hon. A. L. Hcrdraan) yesterday morning, to ask for an extension of tho Moratorium Act to cover their industry during the currency of the war. Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P., introduced tho members of tho deputation, and pointed out that they represented the industry from ono end of New Zealand to the other. They felt that thej had a first claim whereby they should receive the benefits of the Aot, as well as others. Mr. G. Bartholomew, representing the King Country, was the first speaker. He said that owing to the falling-off ir trade almost immediately after the declaration- of war, the sawmillers wer< compelled to shorten time, and wen only working four days, instead of six Despite that, they found they were increasing their stocks of timber. Thej found that they could not carry oui arrangements into which they had entered, such as the paying of royalty ir milling bush, whether the timber was cut or not. They asked that during the currency of the war thoy should only be compelled to pay royalty on timber where cut, and that the time to get out the timber should be extended to a time corresponding to the time they had to shorten or shut down. Very few millers were in a position to go on storing up timber. The reason why they did not apply while Parliament was in session, was that they thought- the crisis would soon pass, and things become normal again, but they could see, while not doubtful of the result, that it would be a long struggle, and they must be prepared to wait. Difficult to Sell Timber. Mr. G. H. Boyd, representing Westland, said that ever sinco tho war there had been a falling away in their business, and it was a most difficult mattei to sell timber, for tho building, trade one of the first to feel the crisis, More carpenters were out of work than any other tradesmen. On tho West Coast, where they were working under the Mining Act, they could get a certain amount of relief, by applying to the- Warden, but rents went on, and the millers would like to be relieved at I he present time. Mr; Jos. Butler, Auckland and North Auckland, endorsed the remarks made by the previous speakers. The mills, he said, found great difficulty in finding interest charges, which were going on all the time, as well as rat« 6 and taxes. He instanced the Kauri Timber Co., which each year paid £943 ss. 2d. in rates and taxes. In connection with recent bush they had purchased, they had an amount outstanding of £17,001), on which the Crown was receiving at the present time 5 per cent. If the) considered those conditions, and the fact that only three out of six mills were working, they would agree that somo consideration should be meted out to them. Mr. Massey: I wish they were all a£ able to pay as the Kauri Timber Co. I don't forget- that tho Crown needs revenue, and that the war has disturbed our revenue. •Mr. Butler:. But a private concern feels it more than the Crown. Mr. Massey: I think your illustration of the Kauri Timber Co. was an unfortunate one. If they were all as well off as the Kauri Timber Co., it would hot. be so bad. ' "Mr. Butler: But if tho Kauri Timber Co. had put their money in the Savings Bank, instead of keeping an industry going which provides, a great deal of employment, they would be better off. Mr. Massey,: Yes; but the Crown needs its revenue. Mr. Butler: The Crown will get its money, but it is a question of getting it at once. There are other companies seriously affected, inasmuch as drought in Australia has seriously affected theii trade. Mr. W. A. Ellis, representing South Auckland and Taumaranui, pointed out that the mills were doing 50 to 60 per oeiit. less now than before the war. 1 Mr. Seed (May Mora Estates) representing the Hutt Valley, said that in this district Wellington was their particular market, and Wellington was feeling the slump as much as any other part. The local mills were working short time, or closed down. His own mill, as it was controlled from London, felt the disturbance very much. It had been closed down right from the start of the war. Mr. W. G. Haybittle added that when the question was under consideration the Ministers should not look at it from the Kauri Timber Co. point of view. (Laughter.) In tho King Country the millers wore struggling for very existence. Mr. Guthrie pointed out that while some millers were dealing with tho Gov. eminent, others were dealing with Natives. The millers desired protection from paying royalties on timber, which they did not out. - Prima Minister In Reply. Mr. Massey, in reply, said that he was glad the point as to timber cut from Native land had been raised. Until then lie could not see where-the Moratorium Act could bo made to apply. The Act could not be made t-c apply without an amendment, and an amendment meant a meeting of the House. He could not say when the House would meet; that was a question which would be settled within a few weeks, but whether they would dea: with legislation he could not say. As far as land whore there was a minimum payment of royalties, that might be made a matter of arrangement, and he was quite willing to make a recommendation to his colleagues. He understood the position of the man of limited means being made to make those payments when his business was limited. Of course, there was the difficulty that the Government must have a certain amount of revenue to carry on tho business of the country, and if they did not get that revenue they could no? carry on. It must bo apparent that the war had, to a certain extent— ' not seriously—affected the revenue oi tho State. As'to what had been done for pastoral tenants of ( tho Crown, he pointed out that in past' years they had depended upon large stock and station agents to pay their rentals for the halfyear prior to tho wool coming in. The fimauces of thoso companies had been seriously disturbed by the war, because they depended not so much on New Zealand as on England, and they found difficulty in doing as they had done in past years. Tho Government had had to postpone many of the rentals. The Crown had taken the place of tho companies with which the settlers had business in past years. He was quite willing to do that again, and was quite willing to do with the sawmillers as thoy had done with the pastoral tenants. He was not able to saj what thoy would be able to do until thoy had lokcd into it. His sympathies wero with the people who were having a difficulty. Ho understood that there was no other industry sc seriously affected as the sawmilling industry. When the war camo to an end he was hoping, and ho believed, that they would have a state of prosperity that would mako up for tho present difficulty, not that there was any serious difficulty in tho country, for the outlook on tho wholo was good. He could only say that his sympathies wero with the men, and if they could assist the.m, after looking into'tho case, they would bo very pleased to do so.