DOMINION TIMBER

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1929, Page 2

DOMINION TIMBER

PLENTY AVAILABLE,

MERCHANTS PROTEST AHAIXST CRITICISM.

DUNEDIN, Feb. 21

Replying to recent criticism by the Otago Ktlucalioii Hoard on the nondelivery of timber re<juiretl for school buildings, a deputation from the Dunedin '1 imber .Merchants’ Association to-day told the board that its members bad not been consulted and that there, were ample stocks available in Dunedin yards. They protested against the use of foreign timber bycontractors when New Zealand-grown timber was available.

“J. suppose you have something hard to say against us,’’ remarked the chair man (Mr .). Wallace), when the deputation, consisting of Messrs W. H. Brent, Keith Ramsay and J. Alien, was introduced.

“Xo, we only want to put ourselves right,” replied Mr Brent. The associiation’s representatives wished to discuss with the board the recent report of a discussion on irfie (psestion of timber supplies for school buildings. In the report the sawmillers and timber merchants were confused. Although closely allied there was a line of demarcation. The association wished it to be known that there was a plentiful supply of timber available and merchants gave service by stocking, and drying the timber. The report had been made that red pine for weatherboarding was not available. The merchants wore grieved that they had not been askod to supply it, Oregon had been used on that building. At that time sufficient supplies of heart timber were available in Dunedin yards for five or six schools. No merchant knew that the hoard required it. As to the delay at the Tainui school the merchants were not interviewed. The order had been sent to a mill in Southland. Mr Brent said he considered that it was not patriotic that children should attend schools built of foreign timber and sit at desks constructed of foreign timber.

Mr Allen said that tbe merchants knew the class of timber required by the architect and it would be advisable for an officer to inspect the stocks when timber was required. Mr Wallace explained that the architect’s report had been made in committee, but the hoard considered the matter of public interest and discussed it in open meeting. He thought hat if the merchants, had been in the board’s place they would have done the same. There was no wish to be unfair with anybody, and whether the contract had been kept bv the millers or the merchants was not the hoard’s concern. Tbe contractors had replied that the timber was not available. Mr Mitchell suggested that in future monthly reports of timber available should be submitted by the association to the board’s architect.

“That is a splendid idea,” said Mr Brent.

* The deputation withdrew aitcr Mr J. Horn had advised the millers and merchants to co-operate more.