The Gaurdian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 2, l927. THE STATE OF TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1927, Page 2

The Gaurdian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1927. THE STATE OF TRADE.

Trade is reported to lie generally unsatisfactory throughout the Dominion. Here, in our own centre, business folk have realised for some time that it is indeed unsatisfactory, in fact, plainly bad. The unemployment trouble has reared itself in an unmistakeablo manner, and is being felt most seriously. The Government, very properly is being bonlbarded in this matter, for a great measure of the blame for the the condition of trade must rest at their doors. Take the timber-milling for instance which is so vital to this district, it is at a very stagnant stage. Large undertakings involving great capital expenditure, are idle. The sawmills have reached that stage under the forestry policy designed by Sir Francis Bell, that many of them have reached that “closed down” condition which he once ejaculated at Hokitika, would give him so much satisfaction ! The climax so much desired by the Minister is having a boomerang effect he hardly expected. Then again the juggling with sawmilling titles has led its depressing effect and has tightened up the finance of the millers who find their freedom of borrowing being more and more restricted because of the insecur-

ity the would bo lender never knows wind the forest Service will next spring on the industry. The Forest Service lias keen lather the undoing of the miller, while wit!) increased royalties. it lias helped to pile Up the costs of production, and assisted to make timber dearer and orders seareor. 'llie loss of the overseas market was a tremendous blow to the milling industry, and it does not seem likely to recover from that shock. Add to that the competition by imported timbers, and tlie local industry is ill a Very (I!ilit-nlt position. It is now lor Parliament to indicate what it is prepared to do for the betterment of the timber trade. If the duty were increased, the railway charges and r unities reduced, flic Government would be showing some practical interest in the recovery of the great industry. (I ovei union l readily subsidise other avenues of production at great cost to the country, hut the timber trade is left to fight out its own destiny against all odds, including the Government restrictions on the trade itself. This general statement of the position shows how the p isition has come to he affected by causes which are removable if the .situation were viewed as it should be. by seeking the cause which has created so bad an effort. A revival in the timber trade means much to Westland, and the longer it is delayed the more serious becomes the loss and the general position affecting traders as a whole in the district.