TIMBER INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1927, Page 1

TIMBER INDUSTRY

— AIORE AIILI.S CLOSE DOWN

WELLINGTON, Fob. 22

The timber industry is getting into a mere parlous state than ever and is contributing considerably towards the problem of unemployment, which appears to be daily becoming more acute. This summarises a. statement made today by Air A,. Seed, secretary to the New Zealand Sawmillors’ Federation, who has just returned from a visit to the West Coast, where two large sawmills have closed down in the hist fortnight. To-day, Ah' Seed received a telegram stating that another large sawmill in the Ohakune district on the Alain Trunk line had also closed downowing to the excessive accumulation ol stocks.

‘■lt is no exaggeration to say," said Air Seed, “that the present unfortunate state of the timber industry, and the lack of employment due to the discharge of hands, is making itself felt in the loss of trade among the shop and storekeepers in the country towns and sawmilling districts. The tendency is for the unemployed men to fomo to the cities and so render unemployment there more acute. The position has been getting more serious for the last two months, yet there has been no apparent diminution in the volume ol imported timber arriving.” Replying to a. question as to the excessive accumulation of stocks, Air Seed stated that there was plenty of building activity in the main centres, and particularly in Wellington, but as one looked at tbo houses' being built it was obvious that a very large proportion of imported timbers was being used. '

As regarded prices, foreign timbers were cheaper when the imported soft and spongy texture woods wore compared with heart rimti or heart matai, which were so close grained and hard in texture, but they would not be cheaper in comparison with New Zealand 0.8. timbers, which were of an equivalent- nature and even better. “The real reason underlying this,’ said Mr Seed, “is that the imported timber is so light, soft, and so easily worked and sawn that the dealers in timber, and even builders themselves, can make greater profits by using imported timbers, for ihe reason that it saves time in working up. particular!' in sawing and nailing. New Zealand timbers certainly require more time and care in working up and muling owing to the closer grain and denser nature." "It reallv amounts to this, he concluded, “that a man working on a wooden building can place and seeme twice ns much of imported soft timbers in position as he can New Zealand timbers in the same tune. This is not a reflection upon New Zealanc woods but rather an indication of the and open texture of imported woods.