Mr. Holland Promises Timber Investigation

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 14

Mr. Holland Promises Timber Investigation

INDUSTRY’S DIFFICULTIES PROTECTION AGAINST IMPORTS (From Our Own Correspondent) TADMARUNUI, To-day. Timber importations and the problem of the industry in New Zealand comprised a large part of an address delivered here last evening by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition. Throughout New Zealand, said Mr. Holland, numerous mills were idle or working short time, and many hundreds ot timber workers were unemployed because of importations. It was recognised that certain classes of timber, notably hardwood, must be obtained abroad, but on the other hand, he contended, immense quantities of timber, the equivalent of which New Zealand could produce, were being brought in every year. The importation of soft wood amounted to 40,000,000 feet annually, representing the output of 40 mills. In 1914 the value of timber imports was only £40,000, in 1925 it rose to £1,115,000, and in 1927 stood at £768,462. New Zealand timber was further handicapped, even on the local market, by the manner in which railway freights were loaded up against it, continued the speaker. Within the past few years timber freights on the railway had been increased by about 40 per cent., and timber cargoes were now coming from the timber-producing areas of the King Country to the principal waterfronts. The Labour Party, he said, would take steps to ensure that the industry was not crippled by dumping methods of American lumber people. Labour would initiate a most searching investigation of the whole position, with a view of determining the kinds of timber which could not he economically produced locally, and also for the purpose of safeguarding the industry in relation to New Zealand timbers that could be produced. It would also make provision for the protection of the public against monopoly prices. Mr. Holland said that this already had been agreed to by the sawmill owners. The Labour Party would also insist upon the use of New Zealand coal and take steps to end coal importations. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION Referring to workers’ compensation, Mr. Holland said that the Labour Party proposed to make accident insurance a State monopoly, and compulsory It would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to provide for payment of full wages during a period of incapacity. This could be done without in any way increasing the premiums paid by employers. Statistics for 1925 showed that management expenses absorbed 38.45 per cent, of premiums. Attacking the Government’s relief work scale of wages, Mr. Holland said that, in principle, this constituted an attack on the Labour clauses of the Versailles Peace Treaty, which laid down the general principle that wages should be adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of life. At Auckland on Wednesday, said Mr. Holland, he would make ra;her comprehensive criticism of the Prime Ministers Wellington speech and would deal more fully with the question of unemployment and relief work.