Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1923, Page 2

There iiro signs that, the millers are waking up to the gravity of the |o-i----tion generally, and tire moving in the direction of forming a protective guild similar to that established in tlie* Not th Island for self-defence purposes. A meeting of the Greymouth-Hokitika Sawmillers’ Association was held last v.e.'k, at GroymouUi, which was fully repre-cutative of West Coast sawinillers. The following resolutions were passed:—(a) “That war regulations making it. unlawful for settlers to sell and sawmillers to purchase, without the consent of the Minister, of timber standing on private lands, are unnecessary and should ho withdrawn, (h) 'Hint the regulations governing the export of timber should also be withdrawn, as they now result in practien'.ly the prohibition of export, and are using a. huge economic loss to the Dominion. («•) That the meeting strongly opposes the Government control and administration of private sawmill tramways forecasted in the annual report- of the Director of Forestry, as reported in the Press, and protests generally against, the growing system of Government control of the industiy. which, if persisted in, will certainly destroy private initiative and enterprise. <d) That as probably 95 per cent, ol the areas held by West Coast sawmillers are under the Mining Act, and satisfactorily administered by tbe Warden, we .strongly pretest against areas being brought under the Forestry administration."

Tub only way tile millers can save themselves from extinction and the 1 serious depreciation of their valuable properties, is by an organisation which will have ramifications all through ’he Dominion, and which, wnen formed, will he aggressively active. The passive attitude of the past has lieen responsible for the difficult position in which the industry finds itself to-day. But, there are signs already that the agitation arid continued agitation, is wearing down, at all events, some of the edges of the cast iron policy the Government set about enforcing. For instance, some 'dot up” is taking place with regard to tbe export restrictions. Six or seven weeks ago, a firm wnich was refused point blank permission to export, has now been granted leave to export overseas some 100,000 feet of timber. It is a small concession certainly, but is an indication at least that sanity is at last entering the minds of those in authority. The second resolution above referred to points “to the huge economic loss of the Dominion" through restricted export., and we may regard it now as a sign of the times, of a more hopeful view on tue part of the authorities in the tact, that extra permission to export overseas. is now being granted. It ’s a favourable sign, and the millers should ho encouraged to follow up actively their decision to combine for protection purposes and. combat restrictions to the full extent of their influence.

Regarding the value of the overseas trade to the West Coast, it is recorded

Ui.at a timber boat which sailed from Greymouth last week for JTusfralin, carried a cargo valued at .€13,500. Figures in connection with the cost of producing the cargo in question have been compiled and reveal the following facts. Royally on timber cut, £050; wages for milling the cargo, £7,000; railway railage on cargo, £1,000; wharf laborers wages loading, £500; harbor dues and towage, £100; coal bunkering £150; provisioning ship, £100; crow's disbursements £IOO. If there were a ship a week loading for Australia, uovornment would derive in royalties £'1,500 a month; or £30,000 a year, and in railway freight £I,OOO a month or £IB,OOO a year. Wide the Government would thus receive directly £7B- - a year, the indirect benefit- through Uio increased industry of the district, and the general benefit to the community, would run into many additional thousands. In that way Mr Massey's desire for production, more production and still more production would no realised, and the country would be deriving a material benefit from the wealth, moro wealth and still more wealth, flowing into Now Zealand from outside sources—and so we would arrive at the result of the greatest good for the greatest number—the aim of all good government.