The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1926. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1926. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Thk timber industry plays a most important part in the industrial activity of Now Zealand, and it appears to be worth while to stress the point. According to the latest statistics available, those for 1924, the productive value of the output was £5,022,256. There were 9,135 persons employed in the industry, and the salaries and wages paid totalled £2,058,774. This is an outstanding result for any factory production in New Zealand, so that industrially sawmilling stands chief of all. Indeed, apart from farming pursuits and production, the tim-

her industry is the most important of the Dominion industries. The industry has been much menaced of late by various factors which it is possible 1 1 > cope with to a. considerable degree, but so far no positive action is "being taken. The complaint heard on all sides is the very great increase of timber .imports ;iuto New Zealand. The wholesale production and marketing of the timber is .something apart from the retail distribution of timber. There has been no serious depression in the building trade, but the retailors who have boon securing imports of oversea timbers, are gradually working the foreign timber into the buildings, with the result that the local commodity is being shut out. In some planes building by-laws prohibit the use of any but the better grades of native timbers, but strange to say. there is no restriction in regard to the grade of the foreign article. New Zealand ordinary building and sap grades are often excluded from builders’ eontracts, yet in their place it is possible for inferior grades of imported timbers to he accepted. This unfair competition is adding steadily to the depression adectiug the Now Zealand timber industry. The advance in railway freights last year has another factor to operate adversely against the timber trade. Mills remote from con. tres are feeling the extra impost which of course does not affect the imported article landfed at. the main ports, in the vicinity of which are the chief markets for the ready sale of building material. The timber imported into New Zealand is progressively large in quantity and value, and represents a very considerable rival to the local trade. In 1925, timber to the value of £1,173,492 was iml; ported. The >lurd factor operating adversely against tliie industry, and one which is felt very severely on th West Const in particular, is the restriction on export. A good trade had been established in former yen'a class of trade, too. which enabled a much lower grade timber to be sent out of the country at a profitable price. That trade is now lost virtually, by reason of the restrictions on export. A miller may not export now except under permit, and the permits are given very grudgingly. If the low grade timber could be got rid ol profitably by export, it would tend to cheapen the cost of better grades within New Zealand. As it is, much of a tree is lost, been use its full product may not l>e cut out. That outstanding fact not only produces waste and loss of a natural product, but it shuts out labor at the mill, and afterwards employment in handling the material in transport to a market. The situation generally for the timber trade is not regarded as a promising outlook. Ninny mills are compelled to work short time and reduce output. Mills arc lieing run oil chance of n future sale, and much of the material is hong stacked to await deferred shipment. When an important industry is in such a precarious position there is (ho call for a close examination of the matter. It may he there are too many mills, hut it is certain that imported timbers are coming, in on advantageous terms, and if that class of trade is likely to wreck a great industry, the position cannot ho overhauled too soon. In this district the subject is of the highest importance for the industry is the mainspring to the general prosperity enjoyed. With the decline of mining, sawmilling has come to the front, and where this is such a vast asset of nature’s bounty in the unending stretch of forest. it means, for generations to come, sawmilling will remain a staple industry governing the general prosperity of the place. Oil that account it is important for all to lie interested in an industry, the fate, of which affects the people so closely, and seek to create a healthy and interested public opinion in all that pertains to the wefare of the industry. The subject matter may well serve as of first- importance to the people as a whole.