TIMBER FOR PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 172, 15 April 1919, Page 9

TIMBER FOR PALESTINE

AN. INTERESTING LETTISH-. At the Central Chamber of Commerce Counoll meeting, held yesteraay, tlie iollowuig. letter was received irmu Dr. C. Li. i.uOieo, j;irpctor-Ueneriil of Agriculture and Commerce:— . " L'lui allowing uuorniation in conneotion with' the above, wnieii was received l'rom tlie hejidquarters of the Economic bcction, Occupieil wicmy Territory, Administration, nas been lorwartlcd uy tlie tiign Commissioner,: ttitli a request tlifti the matter be brought to _ tlie nutice of oliumbers of commerce in New Zealand:—

"(1) The timber resources of Austrn;, liumuiua, anil have been heavily taxed by.the war, and those countries will Jiqt be .in a condition to resume exports for-a considerable time- , .' . "(2) -On the other hand, Australia-and New Zealand have not had even a normal demand on their timber resources since 1914, as their great distance from Europe put them-out of competition in -war time, while the lack of man powor made timber-felling impossible. ■ "(3) There is, therefore, an important market in Palestine now for Australasian timber, particularly lurcli, pine, fir and oak, and prices c.i.f. Jail a ougnt to be procured.. "(4) The furniture business would readily fall into Australasian control, once the timber business was nssured.

■"(5) The furniture demand here is mostly for Austrian bent-wood chairs, rookers, and settees. -High-grade furniture is not much sold, though a few 'notables,! no in-Egypt,' will buy, the very best - products in London and Paris. ,

"(6) The imports of timber and furniture to Jaffa in 1913 were.:— I Timber, .£104,000 (26,280 cubic metres); furniture, =£9500. Austria, Rumania, and Russia 'wore, the chief sources of timber. Austria, Germany, and Great Britain were the chief sourqes of furniture. "The heavy war expenditure of Australasia will necessitate the creation of new markets for lie:.' exports." ;■ "These lire unique times, gentlemen," said the chairman (Mr. A. Leigh Hunt), "wheiv-there are inquiries for our timber and furniture for Palestine!"

It was decided to place the letter on the chamber's quarterly circular.