SAWMILLERS' PRICES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2576, 25 September 1915, Page 13

SAWMILLERS' PRICES.

Sir,—l notice the member for Temulca Las tabled a question to the Prime Minister as to whether lie is aware of a contemplated sawmillers' ring, with the object of raising the price of timber from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d; per 100 ft. The member for Temuka is desirous of suppressing the ring and the rise by .Stats interference, 110 state's that timber a few years ago could be purchased at 4s. (3d. per 100 ft., and it is now lis. 6d. at the mills. His figures are slightly inaccurate. Twenty years ago good 0.8. timber could bo purchased at the mills at ss. per 100 ft.' To-day the' same timber if being sold at an average of 7s. Gd. On the reverse side, take tho nilllors' costs now as against twonty years since.. Wages then averaged Bs. per day; to-day the average is 12s. Horse feed was then averaging £3 , por ton. It is now £IQ. : A good draught horso was then worth £25. The same class of horso is now costing £50. Royalties on 0.8. timber twehty years ago, in the middle North Island,-did not average 3d. per 100 ft.; to-day any pro-perty-owners possessing a few tall old butts will ask anything from one to two shillings per 100 ft. for'his logs. I will not, however, take up any- moro of your good space, although I could mention a hundred and one other blessings wo have had to pass on, including the Arbitration Act, Workers' Compensation, Factory Act, and other heavensent measures. The Tall Butt Act will probably give us the coup-de-grace.—l am, etc., ■ ■ . - . SAWMILLER.