Timber Prices.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1922, Page 1

Timber Prices.

ADVANCE IN HIGH GRADE LINES.

WELLINGTON, August 2

The Main Trunk Timber Trade Protection Guild has raised the prico of heart timber. At the annual general meeting, held on July' 28th, it was considered that, in view of the heavy reductions in the prices of lower grade timbers recently made, some readjustment of the price? in respect to heart lines should lie effected. It was felt that tile recent increase in royalties and the advancing costs of production due to increasing inaccessibility of hushes fully warranted all advance in price of these lines, which are in greater demand and which it is impossible for millers to produce sufficient of. Moreover, an increase in price of the higher grade timbers should encourage consumption of tile lower grades, which are slow of sale, and accumulate to an excessive degree at all mills. The association found it impossible to reduce the price of “O.B.” and lower grade timbers further than has already been done, and it was thought that the practice of consumers in using a higher grade timber for purposes for which lower grades were quite suitable would he checked by determining a greater difference in price between the heart and “O.B.” classes. The price of both dressing and clean heart riniu and matai has therefore been advanced by 2s per 100 up to 9in. widths and 3s per 100 lOi it to -in. These new prices shall operate as from August Ist, 1922.