VANISHED TRADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 439, 22 August 1928, Page 12

VANISHED TRADE

TIMBER EMBARGO FALLACY REFORM MEMBER’S REGRETS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. “One of the greatest mistakes the Forestry Department ever made was to place an embargo on the export of sawn timber,” said Mr. F. F. Hockly. How the once flourishing export trade had been ruined by this embargo was related by Mr. Hockly. Mr. H. E. Holland: What Government did it? Mr. Hockly: The present Government. I suppose you would like that emphasised. Lately, he added, the department had relented, a*id was now permitting exports, but the permission was subjected to an irksome tag, allowing exports only for a time. Ho hoped this tag would be removed, as it was preventing the reopening of valuable contracts. He knew one man who recently visited Sydney who could have contracted to .deliver 100,000 feet of sap lines a month had it not been for the temporary nature of the authority. He hoped the Minister, bearing this in mind, would see that the “for a time” tag was lifted. Mr. R. W. Smith endorsed Mr. Hockly’s comments. The embargo had been a most serious thing, and even now the possible time limit prevented millers from entering into profitable contracts abroad. Mr. H. E. Holland said that if the Government had conserved timber from destruction by fire instead of placing a ban on exports it have assisted industry instead of hindering it. Discussing the Frankton Junction mill, which he understood was to be closed on September 15, Mr. Holland described this as a fundamental mistake. Not only would it put men out of work, but also it would deprive people in the district of the benefits of a valuable service. Mistakes had been made in the management, but on the whole the mill had had a good influence He hoped the decision would be reconsidered. The Minister in Charge of Forestry, the Hon. O. Hawken, said the embargo had served its purpose, and permits were not now required. He doubted the tale of the man who had been offered a contract of 100,000 feet a month. Mr. Hockly: I had it from a most reliable man. Mr. Hawken: He did not approach the department. We would certainly have given him any authority required.