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Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1924, Page 2

Tiif. pernicious character ot tho lorost rv policy in this country is being found out by degrees, ll is a slow process illuminating the public mind at times, and perlia; s because there is so min h wood about tin* matter, it is doubly slow to awaken public opinion to an assertive degree in regard to special aspects of 1 1 is- forestry- policy which have U-en the subject of comment in this newspaper. A sign of the changing public opinion is in regard to the limitation of export. According to a northern exchange, the Secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers' Federation. Mr F. L. Turley, has written to the Prime Minister. protesting against the placing of any further limitation upon the exportation of timber from New Zealand to Australia. Mr Turley points out that, if exportation is to he limited in any further degree, the importation of timber into the country should he limited to a correspondng extent. In conclusion he states that if there is any further limitation upon export, it- will throw out of workin New Zealand at least, out* thousand timber workers, and also seriously affect- the* revenue of the railways, ns "ell as imposing upon the Government, the obligation of finding work immediately for till the men who may be idled by the limitation upon production. These are precisely views which have been urged here for the past five years or so. but have had very little backing from those most concerned. Sir Francis Bell, ‘‘the father of the forestry policy,” has made it plain till tilling that the limitation of export is to go on until it heroines a diminshing quantity. This has been emphasised till tilling when commenting adversely on the Government policy, anti there is some satisfaction that at last tho workers, whose bread and butter ate involved in the issue at stake, realise where “the policy” foisted nil the country by Sir Francis is leading, the industry. The industry is in serious ilnngcr of curtailment if the Cabinet persists in allowing Sir Francis to go on. year after year, gradually diminishing the exportable quantity of timber. As a matter of fact it ts tbe set policy so to do, so that tho protest now made is timely and may load to the position being reviewed trom a fresh point of view—that of the industrialists. The question is whether it is not more important to provide employment, for the growing population, than to think only of posterity. Under a well-designed policy posterity can he provided with timber without inflicting the hardship proposed on employment to-day.

In the House last week there was an exchange of views on tho subject of the outflow of money from New Zealand to Australia. Mr Massey is perturbed because the balance of exchange is against New Zealand, due to the heavy purchases of coal and wheat from Australia. Mr Massey could relieve the position to some extent by allowing tho free export of tiinlier to Australia instead of restricting it. The trade while affording more employment in New- Zealand would increase railway revenue, give a greater volume of shipping. and nil round, larger income for the benefit «f the Dominion, likewise it would bring back more money and improve the balance of exchange. There would Itc. also, the security for tho industry which would redound to the advantage of the employee. becAise. the employer with the greater confidence in the future would expand his business, and employ more labor. The subject- is entirely economic, we take it. Tlio State has a valuable asset in its vast stores of timber, and it is gqpij business always to realise to an

economic advantage. Th(*re is no gain fit storing tip sovereigns. Neither is there any gain in utuisjd assets. The unearned increment can he only for the betterment of posterity—which in this instance means the present generation going short. As the people come to realise where this so-called forestry policy of restriction is lending them, so will lie the greater the r<--volt against the Government. And there are further economic advantages with a free market, in that waste can be used to hotter advantage if the millet has a free hand in his export. That means also the greater economic use of the forests, and an all round advantage. A policy of curtailment is akin to ‘‘go-slow” so generally condemned. J’educed production can never ho for the benefit of any iuditsrty. and the sooner the baneful influence of Sir Francis Bell is overcome the better for the future of the timber industry in New Zealand.