NEW ZEALAND TIMBER

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER

STOCKS ACCUMULATING FOREIGN COMPETITION STRONG The consensus of opinion of delegates from all over the country to the executive meeting of the New Zealand Sawmillers’ Federation last week was that business had been, if anything, poorer than ever of recent months, and stocks were accumulating to such an extent that it was probable most mills would have to make further reductions in the numbers of hands employed. Instead of the usual fortnight’s holiday at Christmas, a month or over was likely in most cases. Competition from imported timbers was just as severe as ever, and during a discussion at the meeting it was generally felt that there was little prospect of prices of New Zealand timber falling beyond the reductions recently announced in some districts. It was found that the general average of costs of production were steadily increasing, and recent offerings of Government timber showed a tendency towards a decided increase in the basis rates of royalty. In connection with statements that had been published recently to the effect that timber prices had risen 500 to GOO per cent during the last 25 years, the secretary of the federation (Mr. A. Seed) supplied the meeting with some authentic figures. The statement, he said, was based on one particular timber—rimu—and it had emanated from a rathei; erroneous article in a recent number of the “Auckland Chamber of Commence Journal.” “Sawmillers’ actual price lists are not available for 1900,” said Mr. Seed, “but in 1901 (and it is hardly likely that there was any material difference in that one vear) the wholesale price of 0.8, rimu at the mills supplying the Wellington market was 6s. lid., and in 1926 it is 13s. Id.; ‘hardly 2J to 3 times the 1900 levels,’ as stated by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The price given in 1901. was the net wholesale price (less discounts) at mills in mid-Wairarapa (Carterton —which was then the main source of Wellington’s timber supplies), and the 1926 figure is the net wholesale price f.o.r. Ohakune, which is now the price point governing the Wellington supplies.”