The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 18, 1926. SHOUT TIME AT SAWMILLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 18, 1926. SHOUT TIME AT SAWMILLS.

Tiiiiui: was published on Monday a press telegram from Auckland which indicated that a number of sawmills in the centre of the North Island were working short lime. I lie reasons assigned were because money was tight affecting building operations, and the overseas trade. The latter causa cats two ways - there is the 'prohibition against free export and the freedom of import whereby foreign limbers

are now coining in in such considerable quantity as to a lilt local trade. It is a fact, .also that in Australia for instance, the import of foreign timber is affecting the X’ew Zealand market for white pine in particular, with the result that the demand from there is uncertain for the time being, and export is restricted. It is as well

to recognise that tiinl>or-mi!ling is ranked as the most important industry in the Dominion next to the primary industries. Those of us who live in Westland and on the West Coast, with some knowledge of the Forest laden Coast, stretching the length and breadth of the district, can realise the timber industry is not likely to be a passing phase or business. It is here for many years to come, a great store of national wealth. It seems to

aiit some people to sot a very limit.a!

term on the. life of the forests of Now Zealand. Some Commissioners' of Ch'own bands in Westland have made some very wild guesses on the subject, and unfortunately their statements have gone on record as official. A very false conception of the position has arisen. Those who have lieen

acquainted with the district for fifty years or so, and realised the small area definitely cleared by milling "ithin that period in relation to the tracts of forest country still remaining'. can only marvel that those in authority made such stupid guesses as to the life of the forests. Despite the magnitude of the industry there is a very long life—quite an indefimto period so la ras the present generation is concerned-for the forests of Westland. let alone the great forestwealth in other parts of X.?w Zealand. As to the industry itself it has been calculated that milling plants in position have an aggregate value cf fully five millions. There an? upwards of ten thousand men employed at the mills and the wages paid aggregate mote than two millions annually. It has been calculated that imports of timber brought into Xew Zealand last year, displaced about nine hundred woikm-en. ihe loss of employment by restricted exports, it is not possible to guage, hut it must mean manv

hundreds of men, tarrying with it gieat loss in wages, and an economic 'vaste as far as plant and capital invested in the country is concerned. It is a remarkable fact that based on ,?st 7«»r7. figures the value 0 f tim*

her brought into tlio Dominion was greater than that exported. The imports ran into a value of £650,000, while tlie exports were £475,000. This was an adverse trade balance of £175,000—and this is a country where there is tl>? cry for more production to. increase the national wealth and help save the situation so far a.s trading balances are concerned. What has been said indicates the enormous importance of the timber industry to New Zealand and the need there is to seek to foster rather than retard its expansion. The cheek placed upon milling is the cause of a good deal of the .stagnation in Westland to-day. People are complaining of quiet times, oblivious cjf the fact that bv the rigorous control forced by the Government the natural trading facilities of the district with nature’s bounty as the asset ana blocked by harassing and prohibitive regulations. The cause removed and matters throughout Westland would quickly liven tip.