THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 1

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY

PROTECTION NECESSARY, COMPETITION FROM AMERICA (From Our Resident Reporter.) TAIHAPE, To-day. That the timber industry is in a depressed condition is unquestioned, the importation of foreign timbers being largely responsible for the decreased consumption of New Zealand timbers. It is claimed, however, that the demand for American timber was created by reason of the fact that those interested in timber "made a welter of it,” and charged such heavy rates for timber that house-building became too costly. Cheaper timbers had to be procured from overseas, and these helped to make building more remunerative for the builder, hence the increased importations This, obviously, seriously affected the Dominion industry, and now efforts are being made to restore the position by the operations of the Timber Advancement League. Mr \V H. Turnbull, represent;;live ot that body, waited upon the TuihUjPe Borough Council with a view to involving assistance. The genesis of the Timber Advancement League he pointed out, was at meetings held at Ohakune and Raetihi, as a result of the depression in the timber trade. A meeting had also been held in Auckland. but there they only S°‘ the view-s of the merchants. It was felt that it u-us necessary to get the views of the sellers as well. The league was or opinion that the only woods wanted in v-,.. 7„.,hnd were Australian hardwoods, and they asked for the total prohibition of imported soft woods. He instanced the loss in spending power as a result of the depression at £1.006 •t week in Ohakune and Raetihi, Taumarununi. £1.600 jve«k and .the West Coast at over £2,600 a week, lae ij- %vas to present a petition to ParIfament with 15.000 to carrv some weight. It was nothing short of suicidal to import soft woods fo New Zealand when there was plenty here. Over £500.000 was spent on imported soft woods last year, while the

loss of wages on timber stacked in New Zealand was £250,000. There was also a loss of £1,000,000 a year on wood left in the bush that was not profitable to mill owing to the small percentage of heart. America did not want our goods and put up a high tariff wall to keep them out, so why should New Zealand support their industry by importing their timber. He ventured to say that half the sawmills in the country would be closed down in 12 months unless something was done. A resolution was carried that further consideratioc of the matter be deferred until ne,M* meeting.