The Feilding Star. SATURDAY SEPT. 20, 1884. The Local Export

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 42, 20 September 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY SEPT. 20, 1884. The Local Export

Sib Julius Vogel, in his masterly Financial Statement, proposed that local industries should be promoted as much as possible with the view of supplying the various markets in the South Seas and other parts of the British Empire. As the principal product of this district is timber, we will, make a few remarks to prove how encouragement might be given to that trade without in the slightest degree affecting the general revenue of the Colony, except to increase it. It is well-known that a steady demand for

New Zealand timber has existed in the northern parts of the Australian continent for some few years. It is not generally known, however, that this market was opened by a local , firm of sawmillers — Messrs P. and J. Bartholomew — to whose energy and enterprise the district owes so much. The great obstacle which stands in the way of making this trade expansive is the railway freight, which, with wharfage and shipping charges, puts upwards of one hundred per cent. on the local cost of the timber. We would propose to remove this obstacle by the very simple means of putting timber for export on the same level as native minerals. A ton of native coal from Feilding to Wanganui costs in freight 7/9, and a ton of timber (i.e., 500 feet) costs 11/3; in both cases owners load and unload. As far as convenience of carriage goes, timber is far preferable to coal and costs less to the department for wear and tear. As far as value is concerned, the respective articles at per ton are about the same value after they have gone over the 51 miles of railway we take to carry out our example. Tliis being the case, it is difficult to understand the wide difference between the charges. The cost of; haulage, &e., being equal, there can exist no reason why the charges should not be the same. The other alternative of adding to the freight on imported articles would be willingly accepted by the settlers, should our proposal be found to be impracticable. The whole Colony would indirectly be benefitted, for the population here would at once be increased by nearly double, and the consumers of dutiable goods increased in the same ratio. Where one vessel now loads in Wanganni with' timber there would be twenty in a very short time, and that splendid river would be made a direct source of revenue, the amount of which it is now impossible to forecast. ' The course from Wanganui to Australia has, during all the seasons of the year, % fair wind. In fact, every advantage obtains, and only waits to be utilized. By making this concession no one would suffer, while private individuals As well as the proprietors of the forests would be insured a competency. It must also be kept before us that the extent of bush available for timber cutting is annually becoming smaller, and no means of any magnitude are being taken to replace it. What timber is now being cut is sold almost at a loss, and virtually what may be truly called the capital of ihe sawmillers is being con-

sumed in current expenses. There is j no surplus left to the present owners j wherewith to prepare the land, by clearing and fencing, for farming. The remedy against this state of things is ■ so plain that we hope in the near future to see it applied.