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Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1925, Page 2

Ink curtailment in the demand foi white pine in Australia is having a dis(|iiietitig clic. t on the local timber trade. One big enterprise cilectmg a ircsli milling proposition lias been deterred tor the present to await the recovery of the market. A quantity ol sawn white pine is now being .stacked to await shipment, next year, when it is expected the trade will improve. Tin- New Year will not open very brightly for the West Coast milling trade, wliu'h is allectcd by the heavy imperial: o 11 0 l lorcign timber. A statement such a- this is rather disquieting. but it i- just as well to fare the facts b, limes and seek not to live on on false pn mi-os. I lie riirtailment of the white pine trade will ! e a very serious matter indeed, because it Ims of late been the salvation of the industry The cun a ilment of the export of other classes of timber has been bad for the industry. It could not expand. At the l-est it could be only bolding it' own wearing out its plant and its asset without profit. That ill itself eoiild not be good for the future of the mVTnstry. be- a use it afforded no funds for dlevo.lopment. and nothing was being boarded up for coniingeneies or difiieidt limes. The stringent p-ilion is nnl routined to Westland alone, [i is said to be more stringent even in Southland. The fait thin the situation generally is widespread makes the problem more diflu nil of remedy. The curtailment o! '■ 't:■ -v a lie ting general classes of timber. pled with ihe t impel it ion fmm die:* jv r foreign timbers now being imported. are the primary causes for t lie dillieolty now being experieoeed by the timber trade. \ higher import duty <m foreign limber to New Zealand Would be of Millie little help, but it would not save the position. I'lilcss the duty was of corresponding advantage in Australia, that market hitherto so good for the wliiio pine trade, would still be mena ed to disadvantage. There seems- the necessity for a close overhaul of the situation to endeavour to find ways and means of securing improved conditions. The industry is a very large and profitable employer of labour. boss of trade means a redo tinn of omph yniont and the circulation of less wages. The general economic effect of such a contingency in a district such as this will he far-reach-ing. All (’lasses of ,business people will feel it. outside of employees and employers affected directly. The situation threatens to become grave, which is alt file more reason why the whole subject i- worthy of the most intimate attention bv the whole community. The question needs to lie grappled with now. before the drift liccomes too serious.