THE TIMBER MARKET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2158, 6 April 1908, Page 3

THE TIMBER MARKET.

WELLINGTON PRICES ENORMOUS northern COMMENTS Press Association. AUCKLAND. April 4. Considerable comments have been excited locally by the suggestions ol a deputation of builders m Wellington to the Minister for Customs to the effect that a strong export duty be placed oil Kauri and that the duties on foreign timber bo abolished m order to lower the prices which, it is stated, were rising m an exceptional in the capital city. On bung asked for an expression o opinion on tho subject to-day, the lion. E. .'litcholson remarked to a otar niterviewer that ho was mute unable to understand the enormous prices which aro benng charged in AVclliuguni a.s stated in tlio telegram, bo <ar as Kauri timber was concerned, said Air. Alitchclson, “it could not lie produced at a lower figure, and the imposition of a duty such as proposed would not alfert matters in the slightest, but would’merely place the whole affair in the hands of the millers or lliniu and other timber merchants, as the millers of kauri would be compelled to close down if forced to sell lower. Rimu, for instance, would be obtained on th.e West Const at Greymouth for 7s 9d per 10011, and at the Northern Wairoa lor 8s per 10Olt. As tho cost of • transport to Wol ingtoii would not he more than an additional 2s 6d it was hard to itiulerstand, in tiie face of these figures, Imw 23a or 24s was being charged m Wellington for tho heart of rnnu and martin. in regard to the proposal to remove the duties from foreign timber, 3ll. .A itchelson also expressed the opin on that such a step wouldhave no dket, as Oregon pine would ho landed m any port of New Zealand with Customs duties added for 13? pei IWR. With tho existing prices in Auckland, as previously referred to, he was unable to assign any reason for .tho pilc*g at Wellington.