TIMBER TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1923, Page 2

TIMBER TRADE.

SA AV Alll jLERS’ OR GANISATK >N. A meeting of saw-millers in the Giey-mouth-Hokitika. district "as held at Greymoiith this week with regard to organising the timber tirade. The meeting was well attended and the business of the meeting was well ieeeived, and the decision reached, very unanimous. It is understood that the sawmills in the district are capable of turning out something like a hundred million feet of timber per annum, but unfortunately the orders for the past vear only reached about fifty-one million. There is thus a prospect of trade disorganisation which might hare a serious effect on the industry. and which in turn would considerably dislocate employment, and probably cause w idespread loss. In order to meet the position so far as the millers were concerned. and to secure an all round equitable share of the orders available it was decided l>v the firms represented at the meeting, which included practically all the leading firms of the district. to form a- Co-operative Timber Trading Company for the purpose of distributing orders, among those in association.

The orders will he divided among the mills subscribing to the co-operative principle in proportion to the cutting eapaeitv of each mill. Ibis allocation ...•ill ensure less waste also with the timber, and enable a better selection io be made with regard to heart and seconds, without undue waste of tho latter, which would result where the major orders for a mill to be for all heart. The organisation will be very useful when the tunnel traffic results, also, in enabling the various mills to share more equitably, and so assisting the different mills to maintain the present stall's. Tlu> mills which are thus associated will have the opportunity of participating in available orders and conditions for both employer and worker will be more assured and see 11 re a- regards emrbiyment. from tlu> interest taken in the matter at the meeting of millers, the now arrangement should work out very satisfactorily for tile benefit of the working of the industry in the district.