The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, JUNE 16th 1922 THE SAWMILLING INDRSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian FRIDAY, JUNE 16th 1922 THE SAWMILLING INDRSTRY

The present set hack to the sawmilling industry is of sufficient importance for the public to regard the position w.th more than passing interest. The e.ssation of work is of special concern to this locality, where the industry occupies a paramount position. Sawmilling is responsible for the crenti n <f a great volume of employment, ind as a consequence the distribution of a

large sum of wages at regularly rerun ing intervals. To recognise the importance of the matter, we have only

| to speculate briefly on ti e number <>f i men which will be thrown out of em--1 ployniont at, this time of the year ; ml 1 in a district where there is not gr, at i scope in other avenues of lair r; v.1i.10 at the same time, a considerable sum c; money will be pith-held from circulation. Various reasons and excises have beep, given unofficially for the stoppage, but to the most cursory survey, ip is apparent that n jack of gr- , defft ia fbe primary cppsp. And \\ is 1 |jr*t surprising that, thep« phmi)d ha n,

I uuciiy of ordiTs. Tlu- slump period has been pervading the Dominion for some time. :m<! the womler is'that its stringent effects hare not reached here Miieur. Ti.e husine.ss methods <>t tile luil.ers in l.eing aide to maintain steady wo. K up ro this stage arc- to he commended. Kurt her, there is the loss of trade with uistralia. l ids, is credited in I lie main t" foreign competition and elio.ip freights operating against Dominion supplies, hut it is not unlike)? that the pi'Ospeelive charge’s ill the eiistoins' tariff between Australia and Xotv Zealand may he a factor also. The crowding out from the (' ininonwealtli limiket suggests if the trade is to be secured there must he some drop in prices. So, also, if [he slump in the New Zealand market is to he countered. the position has to he met to some extent hy prices cutting also. 'l’h lk throws liit‘ onus on the millers and they have to reorganise their operations on fresh lines. Overhead charges must come down. They must seek relief in lowered freights, ii possible and handling charges have to lie reviewed. In the good turns pries for everything soared unduly. It was only when commodities ami labor went up, that the price of timber rose. Now there must Tie the reverse actioji. Tain will affect mam people, hut if tin* inevitable is fuel iii the right, spi’it. by all concerned the icsiilt will not be too discontenting. The timber trade will not come hack unless the millers c.'n supply a cheaper commodity. To make the chcaj oiling process possible there las to he an all round reduction. Just as t..e increases were “passed on”, so the re [notions must he shared in all round, and hy that means only can tlie wheels of industry be again set in full motion. Westland is a great timber tract, and with the large mills operating with improved appliances and machinery for handling the bulk timber the production should he well me illumed. No doubt were the Midland railway available as a vehicle to tap Hast Coast markets directly there would he ;l drop in transportation charges. The competition between sea borne freight and railway charges will he more or less keen, and should he altogether to the benefit of th timber trade, hut that is not immediately possible, probably not fdr about a year yet, hut it is something to look forward to as touching the future, and is all assurance that the future stability of the industry is beyond question. Meantime employer and employee must lie as reasonable as possible so as to tide over the difficult times to the most acceptable mutual advantage.