The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1930. THE TIMBER. INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1930. THE TIMBER. INDUSTRY.

The Prime Minister has promised, in answer to> urgent representations from Labour members, that an enquiry into the timber industry is to be held this session. This no doubt will a Parliamentary Committee, and it must needs move quickly if its report has to be of service in connection with the tariff revision, or even before Parliament concludes, for Mr Forbes still contemplates going off to the Imperial Conference, In the haste that will be necessary there will not be time for any Parliamentary Committee to leave Wellington, so that in that respect there the enquiry need not be costly; but it is doubtful if the full measure of the plight of the industry will be realised by a long distance view of conditions from Wellington only. So far as general conditions are concerned, the State Forest Service should have material at hand which would give the Government a great deal of official information on the subject, On top of that Mr J. O’Brien has made a strong speech in Parliament dealing very exhaustively with the subject. If we mistake not ,Mr Forbes was a member of one- of the. former commissions which delved into the tipiber industry when travelling round the country, and he will be on good acquaintance with the important details of the subject, Post tariff enquiries have gone closelv into the timber question, also fnmiJinrisng many of the members of Parliament with the matter in its general application. The importance of the industry has been stressed by Mr O'Brien and the justice of seeking for the fullest protective duties possible seems to be well established on economic grounds. The. industry is suffering from diminishing orders because of the large imports, and that cause might well be checked. Mr Seullin in Australia, took n definite view of like situations in the Commonwealth where industry could be assisted bv means of the tariff, and the lend he has given might well he urged as the line of action here if it is proved that tho fate of the liulimry oan be saved by so doing. On the face of tilings it is doubtful if a. further commission can help much. Mr O’Brien placed the facta before the Souse aod the Gov»

eminent has its own Department to assist with advice on the matter. Just what this all means to the Westland district may be gleaned from the fact that while there are some eighty sawmills in the district, there is only cutting enough at present for half that number of mills. Tne position here as similar to that in the North Island, so that on the face of things there is reason enough to move. The millowners have themselves taken concerted action to try and tide over a difficult period, by pooling the orders and rationing the work, but the effect is only half-time all round, and as a result rnarty workmen have had to leave and seek employment elsewhere. The Government has assumed the responsibility of providing for the unemployed, and has undertaken to provide work. Through the channel of the timber industry more work can be provded if more orders were forthcoming

for timber. By shutting out the imports of the classes of timber which undermine the local trade, the situation would quickly improve. The new and larger duties could be based on existing sale prices, and the duty could automatically decrease if those sale prices were to increase as a. result of the millers taking advantage of the changed situation. By such a condition the consumer would be protected, and the Thills put in the way of receiving more orders and employing more hands. The Government has a responsibility in this • njatter, and in this particular instance is does not appear necessary to attempt to shift that responsibility to a commission. The delay in any ease is not desirable while in any case, the final obligation is on the Government be the Commission recommendation what it may.