TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1926, Page 4

TIMBER INDUSTRY.

HUGE STOCKS IN AMERICA

Lumber production from 10G mills in the Pacific north-west for the first twenty-two weeks of 1920 amounted to two and one-quarter billion feet, an increase of 57,000,000 feet over the same period in 1922 While lumber production is holding up well, says a- Seattle correspondent, mill men feel that present prices are not sufficiently remunerative Of new business reported for the current week 00,000.000 feet was for delivery by rail, 30,000,000 feet by United States markets to move by ship, and 8,000,000 feet for export. There was on June 15 an unshipped balance of 123,000,000 feet to move for export.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. WELLINGTON, July i’2. Representatives of the Sawniillers’ Federation, accompanied by over twenty members of Parliament, waited on the Minister of Customs and the Commissioner of State Forests, urging that the Government should do something to assist the industry. Roth Ministers stated that the public would not stand high-priced local timber as a. result of unreasonable Customs duties. The Hon W. Donnie Stewart said he bad seen cases before where the most careful inquires seemed to sliow tliafc there would be no opposition to a duty, but as soon as the duty was proposed in the Houec protests were received. The representations made that if the duties were increased guarantees would lie forthconniing that no increase would he made in the price of timber were of practically no value, Because there was no means of checking every mill and supervising the output. The position in the American industry was such that it was likely that before long the American mills would either have to curtail output or put up prices. He was taking up the whole matter with the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and, if necessary, evidence could be given lioforo the Industries and Commerce Committee of the TTouco.

A HARD TIME. That something should he done to assist the sawmilling industry in view of its present languishing position was the plea of a deputation from the Sawmillers’ Federation who, in company with members of Parliament, last Thursday approached the Minister of Customs (Hon AY. D. Stewart) and the Commissioner of State Forests (Hon 6. J. Hnwken). Renlying to representations, the Ho AA T . D. Stewart said ho quite realised the parlous plight of the sawmilling

' industry; but the problem of helping the industry was very difficult indeed. ® He was satisfied that only when the 1 proposal came down to put on a protective duty would they discover the tremendous opposition that existed to such measures. Hr Alassey- had declined to raise the present duty because of the increase in price which would, he alleged, he the certain reI suit. This was not to say the Government would not take a definite stand against increased duties, hut they ) would have to move very carefully. The important question of butter boxes had to he considered also. He had always been of the opinion that the dairying industry was more important than the timber industry. A duty on wood for butter boxes might seriously affect butter production. He also felt compelled to say that there was little value in general promises that timber prices would not he increased. He did not doubt that the sawmillers were acting in perfect good faith in giving an assurance that prices would not he increased, hut the Vend of prices after a duty was put on was impossible to forsee. AA’ith reference to the contention that American timber was being dumped in New Zealand, Air Stewart said he had reliable information from agents there that the home consumption and export prices of American timber were very nearly the same. He had been conferring in tile matter with tee Forestry Department and the new AHnister of Industries and Commerce, and had arranged with the Hon A. D. AlcLeod that his Department should investigate the matter. It had been urged that something must he done quickly, but there could he no haste in a matter which vitally affected so many great interests besides those of the sawmillers. The Hon 0. J. Hawken said the demand for timber in New Zealand was not nearly ns great as it was two or three years ago. when there was a considerable housing shortage. He thought the timber industry was over- ' manned, and this being so it would have to face a had time. There could he no doubt there was at present over- ■ competition for the supply of timber in New Zealand. TIMBER, MELD WASTE. In suggesting to the Prime Alinister that one of the matters of research j

which the Government might take up under the report of Sir Frank Heath is that of using up sawdust and waste timbers from operating sawmills for the purpose of utilising otherwise lost material for wood-pulping and papermaking, Mr Seddon stated tfiat in the Westland and Grey districts there are so many sawmills adjacent to the arterial railway line that transport of the waste material in question to a common centre, where manufacturing power was available, would not present any serious difficulty, and on that account the industry appears to be one which has much to commend it, both in absorbing material which is now waste and lost, and in creating a commodity for which there would be ample ready demand within the Dominion.