MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 190£ 1 THE TIMBER TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7927, 7 October 1904, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 190£ 1 THE TIMBER TRADE.

During his visit to the West Coast last week a deputation from the. Timber Trade Association waited upon the Premier in regard to the importation of Oregon timber. They stated that the competition of.Oregon timber was becoming a serious matter. ~ One boat had recently brought :to-. Lyttelton some 780,000 feet, and it was carried from America for less than "the West Coast millers ;had to pay to have it carried from Greyrnouih. The deputation suggested that an importation duty should be put on timber, and stated that there was no chance of the local price being increased. In replying the Premier said I ''the importation of Oregon timber was a very large matter, and a general public' demand would be needed before a duty would be likely to be imposed. What guarantee would the colony have that the loc.al price would not be increased if there was an import duty? Any legislation in the matter would; have to stipulate that the duty would be removed if the price: went above certain maximum rates. The association was a body similar in constitution to the Millers' Trust. It fixed the price of timber and so of buildings and of homes. He wanted capital to get a fair return, but the association had fixed its prices so as to help the men who had deliberately opened sawmills under disadvantages. A' man got a saw bench and an engine, and started to work a piece of bush away in the back country.. He was not needed, as the more accessible mills could easily supply ifcho demand. He was simply using up timber that should be conserved, and yet the association raised its prices all round in order, that he might get a profit, and competition might be avoided., That was not ri^ht, and he thought that Parliament would be justified in passing legislation to stop it. The Coast millers had sent away. 24 million feet of timber during ,the previ. ous year, and had; charged Bs.. When the.chairman said that 7s would .do that meant that the prople had paid JE12,000 more than was necessary. He strongly advised the sawmillers not to be in a hurry to cut the. timber. It was a most valuable, asset, and in years to .come the timber would.be wanted badly in the colony." The. Premier tendered good advice when ; he' suggested . that there should be no undue haste in- cutting timber which .was not required for consumptian,; but it is questionable.whether he gave an accurate description of the operations of the association. The sawmillers in the North Island have, also, been blamed for raising prices as a result of their combination, but there is little doubt that the

people whamake the greatest outcry are , those least "acquainted: with th^facts.;; It" must. be :remembered 'that the'epst of production is miich; greater- iiow ' than it was 'a !;iew;yearavago^^.^uttin^-riots' and haulage .have largely increased in,, price,'andAva^es h"ave; also Arisen,-;all: "of which have tended to materially lessen profits., y^.all'profcabijity if-the matter was : gone 'into "fully it" would' Be found that ssiwmillers'jiro'fits td-day^ are--not as largeas they were ten yearsragpVhotmth-;standing-that,'there-areVvpeopiei ;'hi the community who think aiey; are making a mint 'of' money■• out ;of '•■ ;t|iejindustfy.