SAWMILLING

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1927, Page 4

SAWMILLING

“IN A PARLOUS STATE.” DUNEDIN, Jan. 21. “The sawmilling industry in Otag< and Southland is in a parlous state a the present time, and the outlook toi ;be forthcoming year is lar Iron bright.” This was the view expressed hv All T. O’lfvrnc, secretary of the Otago am Southland Sawmill Workers’ Union and president- of the 'New Zealand Sawmill Workers’ Federation. Mi O'Byrne’s remarks in regal'd to tin timber trade carry weight, as he has been connected with the sawmilling industry in in-netieally all its phases for the past thirty-five years. “In normal times.” lie stated,

“about 1200 men are engaged in sawmilling in Otago and Southland, but just now conditions and tho trade arc so had that not more than 800 men arc employed. Some forty mills are in active operation, but many of them arc employing only half the number of men they did a year ago. The mills in the C.ittins Ttivci- district are typical instances. There limn (red pine), as is the ease throughout Otago and Southland is one of the principal timbers milled, hut here is not tho same demand for it that there was a year ago.

“A number of factors are responsible for this stale of affairs, which is general in. most classes of timber ii] tho industry. But apart from some slack-

ness in tlio building trade, over-pro-duction. and tlio tightness nf money, it is really traceable to (he effects accruing from the importation of foreign timber, principally from America and Canada, which is used largely for building purposes. The biggest hug-bear to Now Zealand, sawmillors is Oregon timber, which is the principal class of timber being imported at present.” Quite a number of mills in Otago and Southland wore likely to close down, said ATr O’Bvrne. This, in some districts. was duo to the face that County Councils would not allow them to cart for four or fire months this year, on account of the effect on the roads in wet weather. Last year, this was responsible for the closing down of six mills in one district alone, the unemployment market being considerably augmented as a result. “The livelihood of the sawmill workers in Otago and Southland is seriously threatened by the large importation of timber from Canada and the United States, and to the restrictions imposed on the use of Xew Zealand ordinary building timber by various local authorities and the Slate Advances Office.” said iU.r O’Byrne, and he added that in the event of no action being taken by tlio Government in the matter, the Sawmill "Workers’ Union intended asking the Alliance of Labour to urge the Waterside Workers not to unload foreign timber.