The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wost Coast Times.) FRIDAY, JUNE 8th, 1923. THE MENACE OF RESTRICTED EXPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wost Coast Times.) FRIDAY, JUNE Bth, 1923. THE MENACE OF RESTRICTED EXPORT.

Thu menace of the restricted export of lima to this district is a most serious matter to this community. The danger to the satviniller, tho worker, and the business man, has been emphasised already, and enquiry shows that the position has been by no moans over-stated. Indeed, the position governing tho restrictions has been rather under-stated, for tho restrictions in export arc tightening even faster than has been stated. However, we are able to-day to give a concrete caso as nffecting a sawmill adjacent to Hokitika, and this instance will indicate to readers interested in tho future of the timber industry, what a very present, menace the .restrictions are already. The pinch is now being felt, ns the fallowing definite statement sets out. Writing on tne question, the milling firm thus reviews the position as it is directly affected by the embargo on export. “We have been advised by the Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce that our allocation for this year hns been reduced to 90,000 feet and that no further permits will he issued to us. Last- year we exported 858,044 ft. (rinnt and white pine) to Australia. Our position is an extremely serious one as wo have already used tho permits for the !)O,OCO feet, and for the rest of this year are unable to export any rinni, whereas our mills are capable of cutting at least 500,000 feet during the next six months, which would mean that forty to fifty men would be constantly employed and our milling plants in use. One of tho chief reasons why the export trade should not l<o prohibited is because with the Australian market we are able to dispose of about 30% more of the lower grades and short lengths, than in Nev. Zealand. When we have only New Zealand orders to cut, it is impossible to sell the cut of the whole log, whereas in Australia the market is such that all the lower grades, and short lengths can be disposed of with tile other classes. To prohibit the export- of rimu will mean that aliout 30% of the timber will be left in the hush, or otherwise thrown into the slab heap and burnt. In the Westland District it is estimated that the cutting capacity of the sawmills- is one hundred million feet annually, and as only fifty one million feet was cut last year, the average sawmill was only working half time. Our position is that we have spent some thousands of pounds in making new tramlines, installing machinery for an additional large mill which is to cut only rimu from new areas, over which we could only secure protection from the Garden’s Court for four months. Therefore, unless something is done to modify the regulations immediately, the position will l>ecome most serious not only for the Sawmilling Companies, but for the district as a whole.’’