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Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1920, Page 2

The suggestion might well be thrown out just now to all interested in the timber industry in this district to bestir themselves ere it is too late. Last year the Government through its Minister of Forestry, wW wxoryise.s a strong personal influence in the iCabieei room, took exceptional measures to restrict and control the industry. This applied in the main to the export trade which is the extra factor to ensure the industry running along tpioothily. Other restrictions will be enforced no time goes on, and it would be wise to seek fa jbe heard before matters go too far, the last agitation was in progress a point wag reached where the Prime Minister was asked fo intervene. Mr Massey, owing to the session and the approach of tilt elections, \va s not able to go into tbe question in detail, but with the'elections safely negotiated safe it should now be possible for the Premier to give the question the attention required. Those directly interested and particularly the

local bodies, the millers, find the workers should get together and sot up a vigilance committee so that the interests of cue)/ and all might he safeguarded, and an important industry bieui'ing on the future of Westland should not be strangled at this stage. It would be a fair thing to ask that until the East and West Coast railway is opened the restrictions on mills on the West Coast and particularly in regard to export to Australia, should not be pressed unduly. The industry is handicapped now in the matter of transport facilities, shipping being short all the time, Thjs condition will obtain till permanent relief is afforded by an bullet from the Coast throngji the mountains. The position is therefore ripe to appeal to the Government for a. square deal fit this stage, and see that no check is put upon the industry by harrassing regulations and restric-

I tious. Those directly concerned Bhould ! move, but really the whole community | is affected by the fate attending the future of the timber industry in this district.