TIMBER INDUSTRY MENACED

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1930, Page 2

TIMBER INDUSTRY MENACED

LARGE IMPORTATIONS.

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS INVOLVED.

AUCKLAND, March 11.

“A crisis has arisen in the timber industry and, if things do not improve, many mills will have to close down. The depression of tlie Nev .Zealand timlber industry has never been so bad as it is to-day.” These remarks were made by Mr G. A. Gam man, the well-known King ountry and Maniuku sawmiller, subsequent to u meeting of twelve sawinillers who had met in Hamilton to discuss the situation.

Mr Gamma 11 said there was n<r disguising the fact that things weie serious and men connected with die industry were worried. “During the past four years foreign timber lias been in increasing demand, and tlie demand for the New Zealand product lias decreased,” said Mr Gamman. “Now that the foreign importations are about, 50 per cent of the wholesupply the New Zealand millers are finding it impossible to carry on. Within, the past few weeks mills have been shut down and some of them have discharged men in order to work half-time. A large number of workers were put off at the end of last month, and many mills have shortened dow’ii to four days’ work a week. This state of affairs exists in both the North and the' South Islands. The position has reached a point where the sales of New Zealand timber are so small that it is quite possible to see that ill a few months mere the mills will be closed down. “The total number of workers in the industry getting a living through mills amounts to many thousands.” .continued Mr Gamman. ‘ Ihe loss of freights to the Railway Department and of revenue to tlie Dominion is also a matter of sanoiis importance. I say without hesitation that the 'importations of timber to this count 13 are a menace. Take one example alone. The cargo of timber on the Golden West, which was in p- v rt recently, means a loss equivalent to .£.28,000 to ithe timber industry in New Zealand and about £7500 in ••■[•cirriit to tlie Railway Department. It also represents a loss , of employment to New Zealand timber workers! a s well as to others. If we had no useful timbers in. Nqw Zealand one could understand why such cargoes were brought here. V e have timber as good and even better than that imported. I have noticed there aas a fair amount of sap timber amongst the imported timber, but as long as it is Oregon pine, eodar or redwood, sap does not seem to matter. If foreign tiinbers are specified bv architects to be used they go into jobs and 1 it is quite possible for the buyers and architects to keep New Zealand timber out of almost any job. One of the very best timbers—black heart of i-iinn—lias practically no sale to-day.

“There are a number of-other causes that handicap the sale of New Zealand timber. Some of them are' railway freights, the system of railway measurements, high royalties and- improper methods adopted in the use of our timber. For instance, the railway freights are charged just as high on dry timber a-s on green. In many cases freight lias to he paid on measurements which do not exist. This state of affairs it will readily be seen, affects the railage price on many millions,of feet of timber. The railage over 159 miles is equal to 13s 9d per ton, and in some instances runs cut at 60s per ton. This often applies to timber that is short, as well as off cut that have little value to the miller.”

Touching on the matter of the Timber Trading Company—an organisation now operating at Hamilton—(Mr Gainman said it had been instituted for economic purposes. The whole of the collections, bookkeeping and general business of the millers was now done in one office. “I can safely say that this organisation has saved the mills from Ibeing shut up months ago,” said Mr 'Gamma'n. “Unfortunately the trade has been going from had to worse, and it has now got beyond oven these economical methods. With assistance from the State Forestry Department, the- Railway Department, and with the proper investigation of foreign and New Zealand timbers, something may he done to help the industry to flourish and to build it up on a permanent and sound footing. There is one thing that can be said in favour of the timing workers: They have never been associated in strikes, and the labour country sawmills employ is to a great extent that of pioneers on the land,” said Mr Gamman in conclusion.