TIMBER SLUMP.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1927, Page 1

TIMBER SLUMP.

LAIHM'iH DEPUTATION. [flY TKIjEGRAI'U PKH 1-itlitiS ASSOCIATION - WELLINGTON, January 19. A deputation I'rom the Alliance oT Labour. the New Zealand '1 ratles and Labour Councils’ I Vderat ion, and the New Zealand Labour Party approached the .Ministers of Customs (Mon Downie ... ceivart), industries and Commerce (Mon. .McLeod), and Forestry (Mon. Ilawken) Ibis afternoon. The deputation nettl'd the Government to set up immediately a Royal Commission to inquire into the position and the working of the timber industry of the nonunion. The Ministers of Labour and Internal Affairs were also present.

It was suggested that the personnel of the Commission should include representatives ol' the Timber AAorkcrs. the Sawmillers, the Building Trades, the Farmers, and the industrial organisations. '

Lengthy draft proposals in connection w.Ai the scope of the inquiry were presented, asking for information, in much detail, concerning the organisation of the industry in New Zealand, the capital invested, the total wages paid, the number of mills operating, the profits and dividends of Lhe companies, the stocks of timber at the mills and yards, the detailed cost ol production of the imported timbers, the actual landed cost, and the selling prices, etc.

It was .submitted that the menace to tile industry might he largely due to uneconomical and inefficient methods as the enormous proportion ol waste between the hush and the consumer was admitted on all sides. Tile deputation asked lor the facts to he elicited, so as to enable the waste to he eliminated, and a reorganisation effected. Replying to the deputation. Hon. Mr J)ownie Stewart said.that the Government realised the great importance of the problem affecting the industry. For some time past, the Government had been collecting information on practically all the questions involved in the representations made hv the deputation. Me said that he had foreseen. when it was agreed that the tariff should he revised, that one oi the biggest questions that would loom u]i was in connection with the timber industry. Me had conferred with the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and tire Minister in Charge of tlie Forestry Department, and they had agreed that the question was such a large one that n special investigation should he made immediately, without waiting for the actual sittings of the Tariff Commission. Officers of those Departments, therefore, had been working for some months past, gathering all 'the information possible, which, primarily, would he required in considering the tariff. AA 1 1 y that information should not he used for the purpose of a special report on the broader aspects of the subject, apart from tariff matters. The personnel of the Commission, as proposed by the deputation. did not strike him as comprehensive. There were other sections of the community which could also claim representations. There were the importers. for instance. The Minister said that lie had given much thought to the form which the Tariff Commts-, siou should take, and he had realised that, from certain points of view, there were advantages fn having a sectional commission. He had come to think, however, that more satisfactory results could lie achieved by a Commission of Departmental Experts, than a commission such as was suggested. Experience with Commissions in the past ■ seemed to show that where men of

previous interests were thrown together a light developed between them, each I arguing his own standpoint. j

Thu Minister in Charge of File Department of Industries and Commerce said he thought that a commission would serve a very useful purpose, but not if constituted as was suggested.

An economic commission was required, and evidence could he obtained from all the sections affected. He considered that a Commission of three ex-

ports would be the best course to adopt. Hon. Mr Ilawken pointed out that in America the services of experts were solicited. They* went into lhe economical aspect, and, on their reports, decisions were made. The layman was not capable of doing the work of an expert. Moreover, to get at the real facts access must be had to confidential information. Hon. Air Stewart, said that he would, consider the deputation’s suggestion with his colleagues.