THE TIMBER TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1926, Page 4

THE TIMBER TRADE.

FREE MARKET FOR CEDAR. OYER SIX MILLION FEET IMPORTED IN 1925.

AA’ELLI NGTON, January 10. Concerning the competition of foreign timber, complained of by sawmiller.N. it is stated that western red cedar owes its position on the free list to an impression that it was considered to ho —at one time when the tariff was fixed —a furniture (or joinery) limber only. As this Ameriacn product is now used extensively ill New Zealand in competition with local building timbers, the question is being asked why cedar should come in free when Douglas fir (Oregon pine) pays a duty ol 2s per hundred. Statistics for the eleven months available of 1925 show that the cedar imports during that period totalled over six million feet, compared with 1 I -3rd million feet during tho whole of 1921. Tt was towards the latter end of 1021 that the cedar import gathered force, and in tho last three months ol that year most of the 1 l-3rd million feet came in. The United States and Canadian millers have since found the New Zealand market (free for cedar) increasingly profitable. During the same eleven months of 1921 the imports of Douglas fir increased hv two million feet compared with the total of 192-1. In the matter of competition with, local building timbers these figures speak for themselves.