The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1930. THE TIMBER, TRADE,

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1930. THE TIMBER, TRADE,

It is very gratifying to find the Coast timber trade again emerging from the slough of despond brought about by the misgovorninent of the industry under the Ifeform administration.” The ) esti ictive nature of tiro regulations for which the Massey-Coates Ministries were responsible, went a long way to ci ipple very seriously the timber industry, and it was fortunate for the trade that that reign of mismanagement ended. New Zealand is again building, up a better class of trade with Australia, and the economic value of this is becoming apparent. It is rather a remarkable situation, but for a long time the timber industry in New Zealand was dominated by one man. He lias himself taken full credit for what be did. His claim is on record in his own boastful remarks, now embalmed in Hansard. We refer to Sir Francis 8011, who ns Minister in charge of the State Forest Service, was tin? evil genius lor the industry. Sir Francis Bell, has boasted in Parliament how lie took advantage of the stressful times of I 1 war jieriod to introduce snrreptiou.sly into the statute hooks, legislation of a most restrictive and damaging character. When appealed to, Sir Francis was adament, and his colleagues apparently dared not interfere. He rode his high horse, despite all remonstrances. and so the fateful regulations took effect. Locally, those directly concerned in the industry will re'-i’ the flippant manner in which he dismissed the appeal of those whoso bread and butter was at stake. Sir Francis even went the length of damning their industry, so determined was be to wreck the situation And bo went a long way towards that goal. With the dismissal of He form, wiser counsels have prevailed, and there is now a more helpful desire to assist a highly important industry. The timber industry is of the greatest importance to this district, for its future is largely bound

up iii the prospering nature of the trade brought to the place. On that account the improving conditions revealed by the growing trade with Australia, is most encouraging. Prior to the advent of Sir Francis Bell, at considerable expense and patience a large trade had been established between the Coast and the Commonwealth. It was possible to trade Certain classes of timber and an amount of waste product from here, at an economic advantage to the Dominion, seeing that otherwise there was no local market. A greater percentage of the xoreat could be used up economically by reason of the Australian market, and that was of value and importance to" New Zealand. AH this was put to Sir Francis in vain, and the country had to put up w'itli the Joss. The lion Minister must have been one of the most expensive Ministers New Zealand has had seeing the loss which resulted year alter year from his policy which he appeared to direct with almost vicious satisfaction. It is pleasing therefore, at the beginning of a new year to find the Coast trade with Australia again giving the millers encouragement and hope to carry on to hotter advantage. Many of them have had a lean time over a long period, and seeing that it is an industry oinp'o.ving so much labour through various channels before the commodity reaches the user, it is altogether to the advantage and assistance of emph yment to see the industry more and more encouraged. Mr Taverner, the Minister in Charge of Forestry has been urging employers generally to do all they can in providing labour. We are sure the millers will be ready to help the Min ister and the general situation, if lie will help them. There is room for an enlarged timber industry, and the Minister should help to build it up, and he will find extra assistance from a productive quarter which for a considerable time past, has been compelled to work with the brake on due to the Government’s restrictive regulations.