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Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1930, Page 4

On Tuesday last the County Council agreed to support the suggestion from the Taumarunui County Council to approach the Government- for an increased duty on timber. There was a- quick response to the desire, for that evening the prime Minister brought down hjs * amended Customs’ tariff, and despite ;; measure of opposition, the increased duty was agreed to. In the course of his re-' marks, Mr Forbes said: It will he seen that the resolutions provide for increased rates of duty on imported limber. As I stated previously, the increased protection afforded to the local industry in 1927 did not have the desired effect of encouraging the use of local timber rather' than imported timber, At the present lime the local industry is suffering from a severe depression, and it is necessary that every reasonable assistance •should be given so that us little hardshin as possible may he felt by the industry and the men engaged in it. Since the first .resolutions were brought down on July 22, it has been pointed out that during the past year reductions' in the export prices to the extent of about 2s per 100 super' feet have been made on some of the main kinds of rough sawn timber shipped to Now Zealand. This means that even with the added protection accorded under the old resolutions the local industry is practically not in a much hotter position to moet competition front imported timber than it was, say a year ago. fit has accordingly been decided to increase tlie duty on rough sawn timber to the extent of 2s per 100 super feet, and members will notice that the duty is now flzed at 9s fid per 100 super I'eet on such timber in small sizes, and at 7s fid on 'bulk timber, It has been pointed out that undw t.he previous resolutions it was possible that it might he more profitable to import dressed timber than rough sawn timber. The duty on

sawn dressed timber has now been fixed at 10s per 100 super feet. Most, of the dressed timbers are imported in the form of lining or ceiling. The result of the duty now proposed should be that if timber is imported it, should come into the country in Hie voo.crh and Hint any dressing should he done locally. Provision

lm« lyipn puhlo for a dutv of 2iss per | 110 ful'in foot to ho i m]>osecl on nil- | worked logs and for hewn timber to bo nlaood on tbo same footing as rough sawn timber. If tins wore not done it is possible that largo quantities of limber in elm form of logs or hewn timber might be imported, ft must bo ro”'embored tl.ne tbo obioot of the tariff on timber is not to protect the sawing and dressing of I imported timber, but to encourage tbo New Zealand timber industry and fbo sawing and dressing of local timber. The duty on laths and shingles lias been increased from 10 per cent

to 20 per cent in conformity with the ;ilterations made in the duties oh l the other kinds of timber already referred to. It will be gathered from this that the Government acted on definite lines, 'but the proposal met with a good deal of opposition. It' is duo to the Member for Westland' to '.say that Mr O’Brien’s advocacy of the increased duty has had a good' deal to do with its acceptance by the Government and adoption bv Parliament. Mr O’Brien lias been in touch with both the millers and the employees, and has inside knowledge of the plight of the industry, and was able to address the House at length with cogent reasons for the alterations. Tlie effect of the change will take time to eventuate, as there will be heavy stocks of overseas timber on band, but the advantage should materialise at no distant date, and be all for the betterment of the industry. It should be pleasing to all concerned that the Government realised so satisfactorily its obligations in this matter.