TIMBER PRICES TO INCREASE NEXT WEEK

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1948, Page 4

TIMBER PRICES TO INCREASE NEXT WEEK

Tribunal’s Decision on Millers’ Claims P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug 6. The Price Tribunal has approved of increases in the loading-point prices of timber. The increases in respect of indigenous timbers are: — North Island. —One shilling and fourpence net, per 100 board feet. West Coa?t, Nelson and Marlborough.—One shilling and , sevenpence per 100 board feet. Southland ana Otago—One shilling per 100 board feet. In respect of exotic timbers, an increase, for wage costs, of three pence farthing per 100 board fee! has been approved in each of the three territorial districts. The Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association had made a clam, which covered three separate applications, as follows.—North Island.— Net, per 100 board feet 5s 9.88 d; West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough net per 100 board feet, 5s 1035 d: South and Otago, net per 100 board feet, 5s 8.9 d. The millers claimed for portions of additional wage cost dating back to October, 1947, and not yet allowed; also for additional depreciation, and fire insurance cover; for increased cost of milling requirements; and also an additional amount to place the industry on a reasonable economic basis. It was also urged by the sawmillers, that approval be given for the industry to add future wage increases to their prices, without any necessity of making application to the tribunal for approval. The tribunal declined the application for additional depreciation and fire insurance cover, but it allowed threepence per 100 board feet for increased cost of indigenous timber m’lling requirtments. In order to place the industry on a reasonable level, increases in the price of indigenous timber of ninepence per 100 board feet in the NorXi Island, and of fivepence per IQO board feet in Southland and Otago were approved. It was also decided, in respect of indigenous timber production, to grant increases of fourpence per 100 board feet in the North Island and sixpence per' 100 board feet on the West Coast and m Nelson =md Marlborough; .and fourpence In Southland and Otago, to cover the cost of wage increases granted bv the Court of Arbitration, as from October 1. 1947.

An application for an automatic approval of increase in the price of timber in iesr*ect of anv future wage increases was declined. In the totals, therefore, the Price Tribunal’s approvals are:— North Island. —Net per 100 bsard feet, Is 4d; West Coast. Nelson and Marlborough, net per 100 board feet Is 7d; Southland and Otago, net per 100 board feet, Is. In respect cf exotw timbers, < a final increase in respect to wage costs of 31 d per 100 board feet was approved in each of the three territorial applications. ANOMALIES TO BE CORRECTED It was stated in the decision that it was apparent that, at present, there exist several anomalies in the millers and the merchants price costs, which anomalies are unjustifiably favouring the production of certain sizes in preference to other sizes and that it was the intention of the tribunal to rectify that. The Price Control Division has been requested to prepare new price lists for both millers and merchants with this end in view, and, until such time as these lists hgve been prepared, the increases authorised by this decision would be treated as a net surcharge only, which.will ’oe operative from Wednesday next, August 11.

The merchants would not apply any increases until the customary three weeks’ stock clearance period had elapsed. The tribunal comprised Mr Justice Hunter (president), Mr P. N, Holloway (member), and Mr L. Munro, (associate member).