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Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1927, Page 2

A noth ri! “shocking” on:iiii]i c nf ilie stale i I' affairs in Xru Zealand .'it Che moment, is tin* new s l,!i;lt three of the largest sawmilling ventures in tin.' Xorth Island arc inij> • 11 1 ■ *1 to reduce operations by working only Iwo thirds of t'iifli week. The general .slackness of the industry is given as the cause, and here in a sawiiiilling centre 1 u here similar conditions prevail, that position can he well unde!stood. The attention of the Government has been drawn to the matter over and over again, and shown as plainly n,s the mother-tongue can express itself the reasons for the stagnation of the limner industry in the Dominion. Vet the Government will not move ill the effort to remedy the situation-.. 50 line to the general welfare. The trouble began some time ago. as it was predieted it would, by the foolish restriction on export. Ily that act the Government openly killed a profitable market for New Zealand timber in the face of sound advice given from all quarters. For the sake of a fad with a docile hacking Parliament, export was so restricted till a very useful overseas market was lost. Then came the importation of foreign limber, freely admitted here though the Government have known how unfair the competition was, seeing the difference in the cost of production, as between that of cheap labor in foreign countries and the higher priced labor in this country. The cheaper timber gradually undermined the local trade, helped as the process was also by the building by-laws in many centres, which prohibited the use of Xew Zealand 0.J3. timbers. All the time the Government has remained passive and allowed the injury to accrue till now it is a veritable menace. According to the press telegram some 300 men arc affected in the throe organise lions mentioned us restricting work. A large sum will he involved in the wages lost, and this will be reflected til! round the district. Westland is passing through a similar experience l just now, and no words of hope come from the Government. The recent deputation on the matter appears to have been abortive. The policy of the Government in this as in many other matters of difficulty, is passive, and that neglect must he reflected ultimately in the state of the public feeling when eonvinoong lime comes round.