The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1927 THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1927 THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

.Many important matters aifeeting the timber industry, were dealt with in tho annual report of the Dominion Federated Sa'.vinillers’ Association, which was adopted at ihb annual general meeting ili Wellington last week, lieview my the past year the report stated that “such a year of acute depression has probably not been experienced in t!w industiy since the slump period of 1908-9. Suffico it briefly to state that trade throughout the year under review was so had that we arc now justified in. confidently hoping that tho low-water mark of depression has been passed, and that the future will contain much that is of hi ig liter promise. Though, during the year, there were practically no alterations made in actual lists in u'ny district, there was, nevertheless, in some cases, a gradual decline in timber prices as a result of tho actual lists being suspended, ill order that the increasingly severe competition from imported timbers blight in some measure he countered, and owing to the necessity of many millers haring to realise unduly heavy accumulations of stock; such accumulations having resulted from a. valiant endeavour to keen going in the face of adverse conditions. It is certain that few millers have been able to keep their financial annual balance on the right side with the prevailing reductions in sales and the decline ill prices.” The report stated that sawmillllig was one of the leading industries of the Dominion. apart from farming, as was disclosed in the following figures for the past year, those for 1925-2!) Doing given in parentheses: Number of employees engaged—Sawmilling, 9.0-13 (19,082); printing, 7223 (6770); clothing, 6833 (6652); freezing, 3793 (7507). Amount paid in wages—Sawmilling, £2,319.072 (£2.286.831); printing, El 021,631 (El ,501,662) ; clothing, £844,383 (£775.943); freezing. £1.468,867 E 1.471.025). Very heavy work was entailed whe'n endeavours were made to secure more adequate customs protection last sessjou ; and probably as a result of work then accomplished it was now confidently hoped to secure a greater measure- of relief from the Customs Amendment Bill which it was anticipated would he introduced during the present session. Due to representations made, the association could take credit for securing the imposition of the 2s duty on imported cedar and Japanese oak. which had been so increasingly invading our markets. It was significant to note that there had been a marked decrease in the importations of cedar since tho imposition of even so small a duty. Hie Forests Amendment Bill affected aiore particularly millers on the Vest feast, of the South Island, and it purported to validate timber cutting fights granted under the Mining Act, which had been declared void by the supreme Court. After persistent and •cry strenuous representations the Bill vox considerably amended before being >assed. Although in its present imended form, the report declares, it nay still justly lie described as a suherftige, had this Bill been passed in is original form it would have created , precedent that might later have been :sed to qualify any future validation f titles that might bo found neoesarv. In April the Government' set up special commitee of departmental exerts to examine the position of the ini lie r industry and bring down reeommr.dations that might- be for the enefit of the industry. Following lie recommendations of that special »m rn it tee. the association’s executive £ ■solved to enter upon an advertising , ropagandn, and so that it might be s irried on within definite line it was solved to strike a special levy of vo-tenths of a penny per 100 ft. for ' tat purpose. “There is no doubt, the 11 port says, “that those engaged in s e industry by earnest co-ordinated Fort may bring about a. measure of - form in grading and marketing, lich must ultimately have most bene- p ial results; and as this movement “ is commenced during the year under ti view it js fitting to record it as the 6

beginning of probably one of the bigost steps that has yet been attempted for the general improvement of the industry.” li has been hoped to report sonic action following < onferences that had been held between members of the executive and members of the ,Scientific Industrial Research Board, but little of any practical value to the in-dc-tVy has lCMilled from such conferences. 'Hie executive were still hopeful. however, of enlisting the services of that hoard in. the interests of the in dustrv.