CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1919, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE TIMBER QUESTION. (To the Editor.) ■Sir, —In your report of meeting of the County Council re the timber restrictions I notice that none of the speakers ventured to touch on the excessive prices now charged compared with the prices ruling before the advent- of the two outside firms into the milling business. Mr Murdoch stated that the balance sheets of the millers don’t disclose excessive profits. Perhaps they don’t. Probably the balance sheets of all the Banks that went “bung” in Australia twenty or twenty five years ago showed a perfectly sound position before the smash, .ur Murdoch stated also that if my contention about tlic exorbitant prices was correct what was the Board of Trade doing? In reply to that I would ask is there anyone on the Board with practical experience of sawmill work. One who knows what quantity a given class of mill can produce and the cost of labour etc. that would enable the Board | to arrive at the exact cost per 100 feet. If there is no such person on the Board how can they combat any statements that might be made to them.

To strengthen, my contention that prices are excessive I may just mention that a. few days ago a builder asked for quotation at one of the mills and this was the price;; For G.B. timber at the mill 19/- per 100 feet— 0.8. means ordinary building, and is about the lowest class quality—before the war that class would have been 6/- or 7/-. If that- is not an excessive profit well I don’t know what is. This the kind of thing that is helping the Bolshevik movement along.—Yours. Etc.

“SQUARE DEAL.” Hokitika, June 16th. 1919