A FARMER ON THE TIMBER TRADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 81, 10 June 1879, Page 2

A FARMER ON THE TIMBER TRADE.

-♦ A few days ago, Mr Gower contributed an excellent letter to our Marton contemporary, entitled, " A farmer's voice concerning free trade in timber." Pressure on our space has prevented our noticing the letter before. Mr Gower appears to have been converted to the views this journal fought for single handed in the district, viz., that free trade in timber will develop better than protection the industry in Manawatu. He holds that at present the farming industry — considering the great decline which has taken place in the

value of cereals and sheep — ha 3as strong a claim to be protected as the saw millers. At tho same tima^bog^ does not ask protection. H^ris willing to meet the difficulty by improved machinery. Mr Gower points out that at one time both corn and timber were cut by hand. Wheat was then worth from 6s to 9a per bushel, and timber from 8s to 12s por hundred leet. The two industries were then on equal terms. But as competition flooded the market, wheat fell to one half its former price, yet Government refused protection. Mr Gower goes onto say : — What has been the effect — despair P No ! Hut on the contrary, tho low price was met by increased energy and determination ; foreign competitors were met with their own weapons, and the scythe, sickle and flail were left far behind, when it was recognised this was the day for double-fur* row ploughs, reapers, and steam threshers. ... I Would counsel the sawmillers to meet the difficulty as farmers hare done, by improved machinery} etc. lam led to lay the more stress upon thin because taking the old price for hand-sawn timber at He to 12s, I fiud even more charged by the flawmillers who now use machinery than thoee who used to cut by hand. What is the use of machinery except to cut at lower prices ? For the titno past it appears to me that the . peculiarity of steam saw mills in Manawatu has been to put very large profits into the pockets of the owners, rather than the consumers should be benefitted by the introduotion of machinery. There is a ring of sound sense about the remarks we have quoted which must commend them to every impartial mind. We look upon Mr Gower' s letter as extremely opportune, and think the plain facts in which, it deals are calculated to remove the maudlin idea that the abolition of the duty is the cause of . the present depression in the timber trade.