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Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1930, Page 4

I The Member for Westland (Mr O'Brien) put in a strong plea in Parliament this week for greater ■ consideration for the sawmilling industry. Mr O’Brien advocated the greater utilisation of the industry as ft means of assisting unemployment.. Me spoke of what America liad dohe to assist the industryj the assistance enabling the commodity to be brought Into New Zealand and competing Rucossfully as to price with the local article, .-Of the recent duties, probably the increased timber duties only could be considered as of a protective character, but even in that regard, the new duties barely go half-way. In the agitation affecting, timber duties, the intermediaries in the way of sales merchants in cities, have a considerable say. and their point of view invariably has some effect on we Government action. Probably, at this juncture, it was the pressure from that quarter which limited the neiv duty to the rates finally fixed. Mr O’Brien’s contention is that the Government should be as thorough as America in the way of assuring- protection to the extent of prohibition, and so giving the mills undoubted control of the Dominion market. If j that monopoly were created, fairness

] demands that there should be pricecontrol so that the consumer should not be victimised; also there should be a limit to the wages rates to safeguard production cokts. Of late years '/the sawmils have increased greaty in number in New Zealand. In this district there are now, perhaps eighty mills, where forty would suffice to meet the requirements. Again, by creating a monopoly and securing the Dominion trade to New Zealand there is the danger of a further increase in the number of mills, and the competition could thus easily be overdone. While an overhaul of the industry is necessary, and its service in the local trade assured for the all round good of the community, care must be taken not to .create fresh evils when removing existing troubles. Mr O’Brien means well, and should be encouraged to help the industry come into its own, but along safe lines to help the economic position, and not to provide loop holes to aggravate it.