TIMBER TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 3

TIMBER TRADE

IND USTRIAL EIFK^ENQY[ $ ILL... AUTHORITY FOR IMPROVING ’ ORGANISATION. , WELLINGTON, Sent. 23. . An interesting measure clue, to appear again this Parliamentary session is the Timber Industrial Efficiency' Bill. It will empower the timber industry' to set up and finance a Board which will engage exports to advise sawmillers on production and efficiency' problems, and which may' also bo used by the Government in an advisory capacity'. . An analogy for the new Board and its staff may be found in the Agricultural Department. The, latter employs experts to investigate agricultural problems, and to advise farmers a„ their solution. This function would he undertaken on behalf of the sawmi lies by tlie staff under' the proposed Timber Industrial Efficiency Board. There is this difference, however : the Board would be controlled and financed by the timber industry, and would not be a Government De pnrfcmont, subject to checks, andinertia of political control. Onp task before the Board will be an attempt to smooth out the peaks and depressions in the trade. By study and taking the long view, it- is hoped to avoid the periodic booms and slumps which have J in the pastprejudiced the economic health of the milling trade. In fact, the aim might be described as rationalisation. This new and growing principle in industry' has, already been applied within certain limits to tile marketing end of the timber business iby r the sales merger recently concluded -in Hamilton. To finance the'" operations of the Board the Bill provides for the payment by all millers of a small levy, not exceeding twopence per 100 superficial feet, on all timber sawn from the log at their sawmills. POWERS OF THE BOARD. Without limiting any authority specifically conferred on tlie Board, it will have full authority’ to make such arrangements and give such directions as it thinks proper in respect of the following matters Establishment of uniform grading of timber and of a uniform system of costing accounts, the collection and distribution of information relating to economic industrial methods and practices, investigation by experiment or otherwise of any’ process calculated to eliminate waste either alone or in conjunction with .the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or any other body’, the establishment of uniform classification and grading rules for timber intended for export, tlie display of any timber .at exhibitions or elsewhere and for advertising and promoting the sale of timber, bringing about such arrangements as may enable those engaged in the industry to secure the capital they may require, encouragement of such arrangements with those engaged in other branches of the timber industry’ as will secure efficiency in all branches, and generally for all such matters as are necessary for or

incidental to the due discharge of jta functions in ensuring, greater- effioienoy in the timber industry. '.Tlie millers are unanimous in their support of‘the Bill, which was originally 'brought before Parliament on. the last day ot the session of 1928, lst was not then proceeded with, the object of its introduction, being to haye the proposals made publio. , \