IS THERE A TIMBER RING?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2106, 14 June 1907, Page 4

IS THERE A TIMBER RING?

“Yos,” said tlio hoad of a largo firm of timber merchants in Christchurch, speaking to. the special correspondent of tho Auckland Herald, “I noticed in tho Press tho statement made by tho Hon. J. A. Millar at Dunedin, that kauri timber is cheaper in Melbourne than in Christchurch. The figures quoted by the Minister are quite correct, viz., 27s for 12in kauri boards in Christchurch and 22s in Melbourne. I desire to malco this explanation on behalf of the Christchurch timber merchants, for, although it is not stated in so many words, still the implication is that the Christchurch timber merchants have come to some agreement under which they are making unreasonable profits. The' kauri we buy is all first-grade heart, and free from knots and defects. Moro flitches go to Melbourne than come to Christchurch. The timber that is sold as ‘firsts’ in Melbourne may not be at all ‘picked’ as it is here. There may bo a certain amount of sap in tho Melbourne timber, and there is certainly a good deal of it mixed. Tho trade has been built up in Christchurch on tho highost grade kauri. Very littlo medium quality stuff comes hero. Tho Christchurch price quotod by Mr. Millar Js that of the timber sold from the yard, but you have to deduct from tho quotation a discount of 2} per cent for cash, and a 5 per cent trade discount. AVo are simply getting a littlo over 255, and we allow 2} por cent discount for cash on that. Tlio. timbor merchants here aro really making very little profit from kauri. Tho freight to Melbourne from Now Zealand is about the same as it is from Auckland or Kaipara to Lyttelton. Then thoro is an extra cost to us of Is 93 before it is brought from Lyttelton and stacked in the yard. In the case of special truck orders in quantities of not less than 5000 feet the price is 235. The latter price is for trucks at tho Christchurch railway station, and is subject to a cash discount of 2J per cent in one month.” Mr. J. D. Moore, agont for tho Kauri Timber Company, said: —“I havo heard of this complaint for about a couple of years as to highor prices being charged for kauri at Christchurdch and Dunedin than is charged in Melbourne; but I have not paid much attention to it. Now, however, as the question has been taken up by a member of the Government and mentioned in public more importance is given to it, and an explanation is necessary. AVe send the kauri timber to Melbourne in flitches, which include all portions of the logs. AVo do not select it like wo do for shipment in New Zealand. In the Melbourne price-list no distinction : s made as to the quality of the timber. They sell it at Melbourne at 22s f.o.b. for New Zealand. Added to that there is a 4s per 100 freight, and then from the ship’s slings at Lyttelton to Christchurch, there is an extra charge of Is 3d. That brings the price of Melbourne timber landed here up to 27s 3d. Very highly grained, shipped from Auckland or Kaipara, can be bought here for 275, and medium for 245. The difference in price is to bo accounted for by the fact that they send all qualities, ‘firsts,’ ‘mediums,’ and ‘seconds. 5 They do not grade as we do, and they ring on the price on the ‘seconds’ and ‘thirds.’ Only a small percentage of the ‘firsts’ comes over. There is 3s difference between the ‘firsts’ and ‘seconds, 5 and 7s between the ‘firsts’ and ‘rough 5 . 55 Mr. AV. Cook, timber merchant, Lyttelton, who was present during tho foregoing interview with Mr. Moore, endorsed what the latter said, and added that only two shipments had come from Melbourne to Christchurch, and tho operation had not been repeated. Ho thought that for every thousand foot coming from Melbourno to Christchurch a couple of million feet came direct from tho mills in Auckland or Kaipara. Tho other side of the question was put by Mr. Pearco, of Rennie and Pearce. Ho said: “Thoro is not tho slightest doubt that kauri is sold cheaper in Melbourno than in Christchurch. Tlio following aro the prices, as takon from tho Christchurch merchants’ list and tlio Melbourne lists: Christchurch, sawn, 12in, 275; Melbourno, 225; Christchurch, sawn, 14in, 28s; Melbourne, 22s Gd; Christchurch, sawn, 16in, 29s Gd; Melbourno, 235; Christchurch, sawn, 18in, 30s 6d; Melbourno, 245.”