The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 81, 20 July 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1878.

It may be remembered that when we announced the- purpose for which Mr Halcombe called the mill-owners together at l^eilding, we were perfectly m accord with the intention of the convener, namely, to benefit the whole County of Manawatu— ■Fejlding, Halcombe, and Palraei'ston m being able to supply an illimitable commodity, and Foxton m providing an outlet for foreign markets. It may be recollected that one of the greatest arguments used m asking for the reduction was that the millowners of Manawatu would be thus enabled to compete with the Sound and elsewhere. [Resolutions were passed, tke speakers brought forward various statements to prove the disadvantages under "which the millers labored, ,the outside public endorsed the necessity for the reduction, so that this district should not be handicapped ' m the pace of competition, and the sympathy of the people was with the movement. TJu* der those circumstances, therefore, we were greatly surprised to have placed m our hands a circular issued to the various shippers to. the. following effect :— " The undersigned sawmillers m the Manawatu District beg to notify to their customers that on and after the Ist of July, 1878, the following prices will be charged for sawn timber delivered into trucks ,011 the railway line." Then follows a list of the different kinds of wood, and the. rate per 100 feet, the document being signed by all the principal nlillers of the district, excepting Messrs. Douglas and Co., at the Oroua Bridge. The catalogue of prices shows tha,t fully an advance of one shilling per hundred upon each kind of timber has been struck, but as the reduction was sought upon white pine alone, we will cqnfine our remarks to that class. We .find that before the meeting at Feilding white pine :was delivered free on board for eight shillings per hundred. According to the circular authorised and issued by the Associated Mill-owners m future it is to be eight shillings, delivered a,t the mill. Now, supposing that the Grbverninent, taking the prayer of the memo riajisfcs into consideration, aud wishing to give this district increased facilities for competing with thu Sound and elsewhere, should grant the reduction, let' us 'see how we. shall be be benefi txl by the t\v6 changes :" Before the issue of the circular, white pine was i'rpe on board at Foxton at eight shillings; now it is eight shillings delivered at the mill- the freight by i

rail, &c.,is another shilling, and supposing the latter is reduced one-half by the Government, we will then have to pay eight shillings ai\d sixpence. By what process of logic it can be proved we have been placed upon a better footing, we are at a loss to discover, and there is Buch monstrous inconsistency m the proceeding that we were inclined to believe we were misinformed ; but facts are stubborn things, figures don't lie, and unfortunately we have the printed circular before us. If we are wrong m any statement we have made, we will only be too happy to find we are mistaken, and make the acknowledgment with pleasure, rathorthanlearn that by such ill-judged combination the millers had taken a step so thoroughly inconsistent, impolitic, and suicidal, not only to the general interests of the district, but to their own. At the present time the mills cannot supply one-fourth the demand made upon them, and certainly if the owners proceed to any such injudicious length, it may possibly end m the starting of others m opposition, who will be satisfied to take the concession asked from the Government, and sell at the old rates. Mr Halcombe was very aiixious that the millers should form an association, but it is just possible to have too much of a good thing, and the present is a phase of combination which we expect ho little bargained for.